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Hebron mayor retracts order to kill stray dogs following backlash

Backlash against the mayor of Hebron's statements about killing stray dogs prompted him to retract his decision.
Volunteer at the Sulala Society for Animal Care Saeed al-Err attends to stray dogs at the association's shelter in Gaza City, Gaza Strip, Sept. 9, 2020.

RAMALLAH, West Bank — The Palestinian mayor of the southern West Bank city of Hebron, Tayseer Abu Sneineh, announced during an interview on a local radio station Nov. 2 that he would offer 20 Israeli shekels ($5.85) to anyone who captures or kills a stray dog, in an effort to decrease the number of strays in the city.

Abu Sneineh’s announcement sparked widespread criticism among citizens, as well as animal welfare associations, that called for finding more merciful ways to deal with animals instead of killing them.

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