BALADI DOGS
'Baladi', meaning local, is the word used to describe the street and desert dogs of Egypt. For years they have received bad press and been considered a pest. Some authorities and private organisations have used a variety of methods to get rid of them over the years, mainly poisoning and shooting.
In actual fact, Baladi dogs have a lovely temperament, they are highly intelligent and they are good survivors. They are incredibly loyal to their owners and make very good pets.
It is said that the Baladi dog is a mix of 6 breeds of dogs that lived in Ancient Egypt. Due to this mix, not only are Baladi dogs resilient and smart, they are very adaptable, responsive to training, obedient, loyal, strong, good hunters, and can find their way home incredibly well.
POISONING OF BALADI DOGS
Only a tiny amount of poison is needed to kill a dog and survival rates are very low. It is a cheap and very effective method of getting rid of animals. Symptoms and death can occur within just 30 minutes of consumption, or symptoms can last for hours, prolonging the suffering. Symptoms usually include seizures, vomiting, diarrhoea and asphyxiation.
Poisoning is used as a method of population control due to the huge number of stray and desert dogs in some communities which are considered a nuisance. By using other methods such as Trap-Neuter-Return programs, the population can be controlled in a humane way and humans and stray animals can live side by side.
DOGS IN EGYPTIAN CULTURE
Dogs have been highly valued in Egyptian culture since ancient times. The ancient Egyptians kept pets such as cats and dogs just as we do in modern times, and they were treated as part of the family with absolute respect and love. They were also kept as guard dogs, police dogs and assisted in hunting.
Dogs were also worshipped, and when a dog died they were usually mummified and the family would follow various rituals to display their grief.
For more information about the role of dogs in Egypt, check out this article from the Ancient History Encyclopaedia: