When Dogs Become a Threat: How the Closure of a Single Shelter Turned Buzovna into a Landscape of Fear

On the morning of July 3, what began as a quiet summer day on the Buzovna coastline ended in tragedy.

According to eyewitnesses, a pack of stray dogs attacked children near the beach. Two minors suffered severe bite injuries to their legs. Passersby managed to drive the animals away before the attack became even more serious. Emergency medical teams arrived at the scene, and the injured children were taken to hospital.

For the residents of Buzovna, the incident did not come as a surprise.

Over the past several months, reports of dog attacks have become increasingly frequent. Children, elderly people, and cyclists have been among the most common victims. More and more parents are reluctant to allow their children to play outside alone. Many residents now avoid certain parts of the settlement altogether for fear of encountering packs of dogs.

The tragedy of July 3 was not merely another unfortunate accident. It was the consequence of an administrative failure about which local residents had warned the authorities well in advance.

The Shelter That Disappeared

According to information obtained by the Turan Analytical Service from a person previously involved in animal care, until recently Buzovna was home to a shelter for stray dogs.

The shelter was financed by one of the charitable organizations.

According to the source, funding was terminated after alleged financial irregularities and the suspected misuse of allocated funds came to light. Once financing ceased, those managing the shelter reportedly released the animals beyond the boundaries of the facility.

If this information is accurate, the issue is not the gradual natural growth of the stray dog population, but the sudden appearance on the streets of a large number of animals that had previously been under human supervision.

Today these dogs roam freely throughout the settlement, form packs, reproduce rapidly, and increasingly display aggressive behavior.

For local residents, the distinction between a "stray dog" and a "former shelter dog" has become irrelevant. What matters is that streets where children played safely only a short time ago have become places of constant danger.

A Warning That Went Unanswered

Several days before the attack on the children, the problem had already been formally brought to the attention of the city authorities.

On June 24, Mehman Aliyev, Director of the Turan Analytical Service, submitted an official appeal to Eldar Azizov, Head of the Baku City Executive Authority, describing the situation in detail.

The appeal stated that following the closure of the shelter, dogs had been roaming uncontrolled throughout Buzovna, forming packs and posing a real threat to public safety.

The author of the appeal also reported that he had personally attempted to inspect the former shelter but was unable even to step out of his vehicle because a pack of aggressive dogs immediately tried to attack him at the entrance.

The letter requested an urgent inspection of the facility, identification of those responsible for the animals, the immediate capture of dangerous dogs, comprehensive veterinary examinations including testing for rabies and other infectious diseases, and an official response informing the applicant of the measures taken.

By the time of the July 3 attack, no public response to the appeal had been issued.

It remains unknown whether the appeal was reviewed by the relevant authorities or whether any action was taken after it was received.

Between Public Safety and Animal Welfare

The issue of stray dogs has long ceased to be merely a question of attitudes toward animals.

In many countries, it is regarded primarily as a matter of public safety and public health.

Azerbaijani legislation simultaneously provides for the protection of animals and imposes an obligation on the state to ensure the safety of its citizens.

The Law on Sanitary and Epidemiological Welfare requires the elimination of factors that threaten human life and health.

The Law on Veterinary Medicine assigns competent authorities responsibility for controlling animals that pose a danger to the public.

At the same time, Azerbaijani legislation prohibits cruelty to animals and requires humane treatment during their capture and care.

For this reason, experts emphasize that framing the issue as a choice between protecting people and protecting animals is a false dilemma.

Modern international practice is based not on eliminating animals but on systematically managing their populations.

How Other Countries Address the Problem

Over the past several decades, most European countries have abandoned the mass destruction of stray animals as an ineffective solution.

The most widely adopted model is based on the principles of "capture – sterilization – vaccination – registration – sheltering or supervised return."

This approach includes continuous monitoring of animal populations, mandatory registration of domestic animals, owner responsibility for abandonment, the operation of municipal shelters, routine vaccination programs, and large-scale sterilization.

Where these measures have been implemented consistently, stray animal populations have gradually declined without resorting to mass culling.

At the same time, animals displaying aggressive behavior are removed from public spaces regardless of broader humane management policies.

Experts stress that humane treatment does not mean inaction.

On the contrary, failure to respond in a timely manner harms both people and the animals themselves.

The Cost of Delay

The events in Buzovna demonstrate how quickly a local administrative problem can escalate into a public safety crisis.

If the closure of a single shelter did indeed result in dozens or even hundreds of uncontrolled animals being released onto the streets, a number of important questions arise.

Who was supposed to assume responsibility for the dogs after funding ended?

Why were the animals allowed onto the streets?

Was the former shelter ever inspected?

Were municipal authorities informed about what was happening?

Why, despite an official warning from local residents, were effective measures apparently not taken before children were attacked?

The answers to these questions matter not only to the residents of Buzovna.

They will determine whether this remains an isolated tragedy or becomes a warning about deeper systemic failures in urban governance.

The story of Buzovna is not merely a story about stray dogs.

It is a story about how the failure to respond promptly to a known problem can produce consequences whose highest price is ultimately paid by society's most vulnerable members—its children.

To the Head of the Baku City Executive Authority
Mr. Eldar Azizov

Appeal Concerning a Threat to Public Safety Arising from the Uncontrolled Keeping of Dogs and Their Release onto the Streets in the Buzovna Settlement

Dear Mr. Azizov,

I am writing to you regarding an extremely serious situation that has developed in the garden settlement located on Deniz Street in the Buzovna settlement.

A dog shelter previously operated in this area and was financed by one of the charitable organizations.

However, according to the information available to me, funding for this project was terminated due to possible financial irregularities and the alleged misappropriation of funds. After the financing was discontinued, the individuals responsible for managing the shelter effectively released the dogs beyond the boundaries of the facility.

These dogs are now roaming freely throughout the surrounding areas, multiplying rapidly, moving in packs, and posing a real threat to local residents, especially children.

The situation has reached such a level that parents are now afraid to allow their children outside. Children have effectively lost the opportunity to walk freely through the streets, ride bicycles and scooters, and use public spaces because they are becoming targets of attacks and pursuit by aggressive dogs.

I personally attempted to visit the former shelter in order to determine the actual situation. However, a pack of aggressive dogs was gathered at the entrance gate, and the moment I attempted to get out of my vehicle, they immediately attacked me. Because of the direct threat to my life and health, I was forced to leave the area, making it impossible to inspect the actual condition of the facility.

I believe that the current situation poses a direct threat to public safety, the sanitary and epidemiological well-being of the population, as well as to the lives and health of citizens.

Under the Law of the Republic of Azerbaijan "On Sanitary and Epidemiological Welfare," state authorities are obliged to take measures to eliminate factors that threaten the life and health of the population.

In accordance with the Law of the Republic of Azerbaijan "On Veterinary Medicine," the competent authorities are required to exercise control over animals that pose a danger.

Furthermore, executive authorities are responsible for ensuring the safety of citizens within the territories under their jurisdiction.

In view of the above, I respectfully request that you:

1. Conduct an urgent inspection of the activities of the above-mentioned facility and determine its current legal status.
2. Verify the legality of the keeping of the animals and investigate the circumstances under which they were released beyond the boundaries of the facility.
3. Organize the immediate capture of aggressive dogs posing a danger within the area and its surroundings.
4. Ensure that the animals undergo veterinary examination, including testing for infectious diseases, particularly rabies.
5. Identify the individuals responsible for keeping the animals and releasing them onto the streets.
6. Conduct a legal assessment of any possible violations of the law and of any failure by responsible officials to perform their duties.
7. Provide me, within the time period established by law, with an official response informing me of the results of the consideration of this appeal.

I would like to emphasize in particular that if timely measures are not taken and, as a result, harm is caused to the life or health of citizens, responsibility may rest with the relevant state authorities and public officials.

Respectfully,

Mehman Aliyev
Director, Turan Analytical Service