IT’S late afternoon on a hot and sunny day in Salmabad.

Bahraini Fathiya Al Bastika pulls trays of meat out of the boot of her car as several excited dogs run down the dusty road towards her.

Some are limping, some are injured and some look sick, but they are all wagging their tails and greeting her with the kind of enthusiasm only dogs can muster; they know they are in for a treat.

For more than a year now Ms Al Bastika has been feeding these dogs, along with other groups of strays in Zinj, Segaiya, Saar and Ishbiliya, around four times a week.

The Bahraini launched the animal charity Bahrain Strays a year ago and the group now has around 1,000 members.

Thanks to donations from a number of generous people and the dedication of a small group of volunteers, some of the many hundreds of stray dogs roaming the streets of Bahrain are being fed and, when funding permits, are given the medical attention they so desperately need.

“At first I was going out every day but I got exhausted so now I try to go four times a week,” said Ms Al Bastika.

“I stop at a series of places around Bahrain and try to feed as many dogs as possible.

“Many of them come out to greet me and I get to know them, so I notice if they are missing.

“I sometimes give my number to the workers and tell them to call me if there’s an emergency and, unfortunately, there have been some very sad incidents.

“Some get very bad injuries and if they are not treated they get in a terrible state, some are abused by children, some get poisoned by business owners who see them as a nuisance and some just get sick.”

Ms Al Bastika, who feeds around 50 to 60 stray dogs on one outing, is also hoping to change the attitude of people towards the stray dogs of Bahrain.

“When people first started to see me feeding these dogs they would stare at me and not understand,” she said.

“But now I find some of the workers nearby have started to take an interest and even feed them themselves and keep an eye on them.

“But of course not everyone is so kind and I’m afraid I am aware of many horrible incidents of cruelty.

“It is usually young men, in their early 20s, and they do unimaginable things to these poor creatures.

“There was this lovely little dog I was feeding, she was so shy and sweet, but a man just ran over her on purpose while she was asleep.

“Others come with rods and attack them and some chain them to bicycles and drag them along the street.

“I want to see parents educating their children about animals; they need to understand that they feel pain just like we do.

“I remember people from my grandmother’s generation saying that dogs have no souls and that they don’t feel pain, hunger or thirst, but of course they do.

“We need to change these people’s mentality and make them realise that it is the responsibility of everyone in Bahrain to care for these animals.

“If a dog turns up on your doorstep you should feed it, give it water and make sure it is fine.
“That is what I would like to see happening in Bahrain.”
To support the campaign, visit the group’s Facebook page Bahrain Strays, its Instagram account @Bahrain_strays or e-mail albastakifathiya@yahoo.com.
frances@gdn.com.bh