Dog Problems - how it was in old days and to some degree still

Before I blog about having dog pets in Cairo, think better to make a bit of history about local dog problems in Cairo, Maadi.

About 10 years ago, local Baladi (local dogs) ran rampant in packs of 5 to 10 in my area. It was nerve rattling, with the barking all night, - and many were frightened of the dog gangs. I remember living in Maadi Rd 17, not so far from the rail road tracks and noise bothered. If it was not the bloody dogs barking, it was the damn trains coming through with whistles set at highest octave level possible, or Mosque yelling at me, and car horns blaring. Horrible noise!!!!!!!!!!!

I remember getting out of bed, and getting golf club to get rid of damn street dogs. Never succeeded to even get close - they just barked at anything. The trains and Mosque I knew I had no control

Went to Police (many times) and they were very sympathizing, but problem persisted.

Then I moved to another area of Maadi remote from rail road tracks but same problem with dogs.

And we still went to Police and others and -YIKES - within a month problem want away.

Do not know what happened, but to this day do not hear street dogs barking all night, or at all, and it is lot more pleasant. I heard two things as rumors only. Police rounded them, or simple got rid of them, but maybe the Animal protection society had hand as well? There was a third rumor about local residents putting out meat laced with rat poison, but I never say any evidence of dog carcases. But people walking dogs took precautions by putting muzzles on their pets.

One can still see the odd stray street dog but they are no problem. The local animal protection groups do have a program of capture and neutering dogs and cats but I have no details of their programs. I did however find some links to following animal care sites:

The Egyptian Society of Animal Friends

Society of Protecting Animal Rights in Egypt

Egyptian Society for Mercy to Animals

In summary the gangs of dogs roaming around, harassing people and barking all night, exists no longer - at least in our area.