Turkey reports severe stray‑dog attacks, 8‑year‑old girl in Suruç injured

In Suruç, Şanlıurfa Province, 8‑year‑old Evin Bayo was attacked by a pack of about eight stray dogs while walking home. She suffered multiple bites to her face and arms and required roughly 150 sutures after being rescued by driver Ahmet Aydın, whose vehicle had a punctured tyre. The incident prompted a visit from Suruç District Governor Muhammed Furkan Tuna, who ordered psychological support for the girl and called on municipal authorities to capture the stray dogs.

Earlier in the same week, the nearby town of Silopi in Şırnak Province experienced a second stray‑dog assault. After a child had been bitten days before, an elderly man was cornered by the dogs, defended himself with stones, and was eventually helped off by bystanders. Residents of both districts have demanded urgent and permanent measures to remove stray dogs from streets.

Authorities have been urged to implement systematic capture and control programs to prevent further attacks on vulnerable pedestrians.