Pack of Rabid Dogs in Yerevan Mauls 207 Sheep, Family Suffers 10 Million AMD Loss

A pack of stray dogs in the outskirts of Yerevan's Victory neighborhood has mauled 207 sheep belonging to a local family, causing a significant loss estimated at 10 million AMD. The carcasses have been left outside for five days.

The incident occurred on January 19. The livestock owner reported the attack to the police, contacted the Ministry of Emergency Situations, and wrote to Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan. However, there has been no response from the relevant authorities, leaving the family feeling unheard.

Mraz Kasoyan spoke with Yerkir.am, expressing his frustration: "When we call, they say, 'Don't touch anything; we'll come check if it's a dog or something else.' But it's been five days, and no one has come. The stench is unbearable, and we don't know what to do."

This incident is not the first of its kind in the neighborhood. The Kurdish family has previously suffered attacks from the same pack of stray dogs, with 13 sheep killed just two weeks prior. "While grazing in the field, the dogs strangle newborn lambs. We call the city hall asking to remove the pack from the area. They take them away, sterilize them, and then bring them back. The director of the stray dog elimination program says we shouldn't touch them until experts determine if it's a dog or a wolf. If they don't come, we don't know what to expect," Kasoyan’s son, Samvel Kocharyan, added with despair.

From a public safety perspective, it seems that the Yerevan municipality does not grasp the dangers posed by rabid dogs in the city. These dogs, having formed a pack and already attacking animals, could also pose a threat to humans.