A coalition of animal care professionals + lovers aiming to rescue + rehome street animals in all of Iraq
Islam strongly emphasizes kindness and compassion towards animals, viewing them as part of God's creation and deserving of respectful treatment, with cruelty strictly forbidden.
ISARO’s Mission
Many countries in the Middle East not only have significant problems with neglected refugees in camps, but also with the overpopulation of cats and dogs. But Iraq’s situation poses dire questions about both cruelty to animals in times of overpopulation and limited resources. In Iraq, there are more than 500,000 stray dogs, with more than 100,000 in Baghdad alone. The majority of these stray dogs, cats, birds, or other domestic animals are tame, friendly, harmless and hungry. They arrive at places like the Phoenix Veterinary Clinic and Vet Hands in Central Baghdad with broken legs, split skulls or internal organ failure from being kicked, dragged and otherwise abused. Due to often overstated cases of dog bites, rabies infections and even of animals “eating children” the Iraqi Interior Ministry now regularly conducts culling campaigns, using poison and “starvation silos” to eliminate thousands of dogs — in one month alone, government teams can kill over 4,000 stray dogs.
Matters could possibly worsen. With the cut off of American and British aid to Iraq impending, embassies, UN compounds and NGOs that have been saving strays will be pulling stakes and possibly leaving the animals. It’s a prospect that breaks the hearts of many dog-and-cat-lovers across the world. The Iraqi Street Animal Rescue Operation (ISARO) has been founded by several ex-pats, veterinarians, rescuers and care-givers to not only care for these sentient, loving animals and help them find homes, but also to educate the general public about their potential to become a cherished friend, a companion and/or service animal to help those in need.
A dehydrated puppy gets emergency oxygen and fluids at the Vet Hands clinic in Baghdad.
Dr. Ibrahim Umani of the Phoenix Vet Clinic in Baghdad.
The staff of the Vet Hands Clinic and Green Cross Animal Rescue in Baghdad.
Amal, the founder of the Soft Paw Animal Hotel and Salon and rescuer in Erbil.
A sick kitten receives urgent vet care at the Phoenix Clinic in Baghdad.
Coalition Partners
Erbil, Iraq, Vital Village - Villa No. 50 00964
+964 750 131 5377
amalpets1@gmail.com
Amal, the founder of Soft Paws Pet Salon, started her rescue journey in 2009, while living in Damascus, Syria, where she came into contact with many people mistreating and harming stray animals. Upon arriving in Erbil, Iraq, she opened Amal Pets and the Soft Paws Pet Salon + Hotel. For more than ten years and through work with hundreds of animals, she has become the region’s expert in taking in animals, caring for all their needs, finding the best vet care and transporting them domestically and internationally.
Baghdad, Iraq
+964 774 010 6020
@greencrossiraq
For the past 18 years, Hakam Al-Shammady has run Green Cross almost entirely on his own. A native of Baghdad and the surrounding areas, Hakamwas raised around animals, especially horses, and became an accomplished equestrian. From Baghdad, he went on to study finance, but found his true calling when he saw local dogs being tortured. He has since converted his home into a sanctuary for both dogs and cats and answers all calls for pet rescue, also working with local police and firefighters.
Iraq, Baghdad, Al-Saidya
+964 782 600 7613
phoenixvvet@gmail.com
Ibrahim Unami, the founder of the Phoenix Veterinary Clinic, is known throughout Baghdad as one of the most active and compassionate vets. After gaining his degree in vet medicine, he previously started one of the country’s first Trap-Neuter-Vaccinate-Return (TNVR) programmes, a humane and sustainable method used to manage the stray populations still in use today. In addition to helping strays, Dr. Unami often makes house calls to the families, gov’t workers and NGO employees who have taken in animals. Ibrahim is well-versed in relocation rules and regulations and is against culling as a solution to the overpopulation of animals in Iraq.
Iraq, Baghdad, Al-Jami'a
+964 781 628 4919
+964 771 555 7045
A partner of the Iraqi Green Cross, Vet Hands Clinic takes some of the hardest cases in and around Baghdad, often times working at a reduced cost to save animal lives. With a team of veterinarians and vet techs, Vet Hands clinic also performs complex surgeries and procedures in order to save street animals from certain death and culling methods. Vet Hands actively advocates for rescue, sterilisation and the rehoming of cats and dogs.
Our Services
Emergency Care
ISARO helps people find immediate medical treatment for animals in situations where their health is at serious risk. These emergencies range from accidents, poisoning, or sudden illnesses, to more severe conditions like breathing difficulties, trauma, seizures, or severe bleeding.
Rescue + Rehome
ISARO will help facilitate the removal of an animal from a harmful or unsafe situation, such as a street, abusive home or rural area without food or water. We will provide vet care, vaccinations, location ships, sterilisation and certification for a domestic animal to go to a loving place, where it is wanted.
Hotel + Foster
ISARO contracts with facilities that offer secure and comfortable accommodation for pets when their owners are away. Services can include overnight or extended stays, meals and snacks, exercise and playtime, and grooming. If owners are leaving Iraq, we can also arrange accommodation with another carer.
Local + Int’l Transport
In the current political situation, no live animal can be shipped out of Baghdad Int’l airport. ISARO helps people get their pets from point A to B, whether it’s from Federal Iraq to Kurdistan or to an airport in a nearby city where it can be sent to a receptive country. ISARO helps with the pet passport or other papers for safe and complete travel.
Pets for Adoption
Korkut
Pomeranian male, age 1 year. ready-to-go.
Korkut came to Amal pets needing a home after several years with with a NGO family. He is neutered, chipped and fully vaccinated, well trained and social — ready to go to his forever loving home. Interested adopters must sign a care contract and pay $200 USD.
For more information, please text What’sApp: +964 750 131 5377
Leo
Male, domestic shorthair cat, age 1 year, ready-to-go.
Leo has almost found his forever home two or three times, but there has always been a mitigating circumstance keeping him at Amal Pets in Erbil. Leo is a sweet and loving cat, sweet, friendly and good with children — the perfect first pet. He is fully vaccinated and sterilised. Interested adopters must sign a care contract and pay $50 USD.
For more information, please text What’sApp: +964 750 131 5377
Cookie
Female, mini-Maltese, age 2 years, ready-to-go.
Meet sweet Cookie, a super-friendly, fun and loving mini-Maltese who is fully vaccinated, spayed and chipped and ready to travel anywhere in the world including the UK, USA, EU and GCC countries. Interested adopters must sign a care contract and pay $50 USD.
For more information, please text What’sApp: +964 750 131 5377
Misha
German Shepherd, age 1 year. ready-to-go.
Misha is an incredibly sweet-natured German Shepherd who is neutered, chipped and fully vaccinated, well trained and social. He loves children and a good walk/run around the neighborhood. Interested adopters must sign a care contract and pay $200 USD.
For more information, please text What’sApp: +964 750 131 5377
Firdos
Male, domestic Persian cat, age 10 months, needs medical help
Firdos was found roaming around the streets of Baghdad — a household cat who had been abandoned near the Phoenix vet care. He is a very calm, relaxed cat, although needs to put on some weight. Firdos is still under assessment, but ISARO will ensure he is neutered, chipped and fully vaccinated. Interested adopters, please fill out the form below.
For more information, please text What’sApp: +44 7946 168403
Sukkar
Domestic shorthair cat, age 1.5 years, ready-to-go.
Sukkar arrived at Amal Pets in Iraq after her human had to suddenly leave Erbil. Sukkar is fully vaccinated and sterilised. She is looking for a forever home, preferably near Erbil. Interested adopters must sign a care contract and pay $50 USD.
For more information, please text What’sApp: +964 750 131 5377
Ricky
Male mixed breed with terrier, age 2 years, ready-to-go.
Ricky is lucky to be alive but he’s a fighter. Found roaming in the streets of Bakhtiary with a bad hip injury, Amal Pets provided medical treatment, and he now he's perfectly ready for a quiet home. Ricky is sweet, clever and obedient and likes ladies more than guys. He needs a lot of love. Interested adopters must sign a care contract and pay $100 USD.
For more information, please text What’sApp: +964 750 131 5377+964 750 131 5377
Donate to Our Mission
Adopt a Pet: Pick your favourite and donate a monthly amount for care
Contact Us
Interested in working together to rescue street animals in either Erbil, Kurdistan or Baghdad, Iraq? Fill out some info and we will be in touch shortly. Otherwise, please see our Just Giving pages to donate money for surgeries and other efforts to rescue and rehome cats and dogs.