Ramtha residents call for culling stray dogs

AMMAN — Several Ramtha residents on Monday called on authorities to cull stray dogs in the northern town. 

The appeal of the residents, interviewed by The Jordan Times over the phone, comes two days after 15 children between the ages of eight and fourteen, were bitten by stray dogs while playing football. 

Mohammad Abu Dayeh said stray dogs pose a threat to the safety of residents, particularly in the western part of the city, adding that sometimes it is not safe to let children play outside.

Abu Dayeh said he had asked the municipality several times to take action to address what he said is a dangerous phenomenon that has been going on for more than three years. 

Mohammad Saqqar said sometimes stray dogs are seen just outside houses in Ramtha, 90km north of Amman, adding that even in daytime they attack children while heading to school. 

Ahmad Zu’bi also complained about the dogs and called on the municipality to end “the nightmare” residents of the western part of Ramtha are living through. 

Several children in the area were bitten by stray dogs, he said, adding that dozens of dogs are usually seen wandering in the area. 

On the health situation of the 15 children bitten Saturday night, director of the Ramtha public hospital Yousef Tahat said they received medical treatment for rabies and anti-tetanus vaccines and were discharged.

The physician said the children will continue to take a series of seven shots over the next three months. 

Tahat told The Jordan Times that the Ramtha Health Department, the municipality and the Royal Society for the Conservation of Nature will follow up on the issue and cull stray dogs.