Stray dogs ‘strike’ again, injure woman out for walk in Manama

TDT | Manama                          

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com   

Reported by Zahra Ayaz

A 40-year-old woman was gravely injured in yet another incident involving stray dogs when she was attacked by two of them as she was walking through the streets of Manama.

Although the Kingdom is rabies-free, the sharp rise in the number of stray dogs is spreading fear among citizens and residents.

Many stray attacks have been reported from all governorates with hotspots being Gudaibiya, Askar, Manama, Sitra, Sanad and Tubli.

Speaking to The Daily Tribune, a 40-year-old expat woman, said: “I never thought I would get attacked by stray dogs. I was walking towards church and in front of Carrefour when the dogs attacked me.

“I was shouting and screaming my lungs out and managed to get away from the dogs, but no one came to help. Instead, they sat and laughed even as I begged for assistance. My pants were torn apart, so I immediately went to get a new pair of pants.

“I was bleeding heavily after that and was worried I might have rabies, so I rushed right away to Salmaniya Medical Complex and got some medicines and an injection.”

She pointed out that people should be aware of that there were many reports of strays attacking children across the Kingdom in the past. Children should not play with stray dogs if they see one on the street, she added.

Earlier, a passionate Bahraini animal lover, Fathiya Al Bastaki, told The Daily Tribune: “Stray will never attack anyone who completely ignores them since they are territorial beings. If you don’t stare at them, they will just bark and leave you.

“Barking is just a form of threatening to protect their territories. Don’t bother about them, they will not attack you.”