Photo: Aren Melikyan
Georgia's stray 'rebels' and guardians
24 November 2024
Tbilisi's winding streets and Georgia's village paths are home to ever-present companions: stray dogs. Their gentle strides, with noses low and tails high, however, reflect a deeper, longstanding societal challenge.
Their quiet blend in the scenery gained renewed attention during the ongoing protests in Tbilisi over Georgia's recent parliamentary election. Social media has been flooded, capturing heartwarming and surreal moments of street dogs standing guard over protesters through cold nights, chasing police vehicles, and even nipping at tires. One particularly striking image showed a shaggy brown mutt lying undisturbed in front of a line of riot police, becoming an embodiment of quiet defiance – a gesture many disheartened Georgians saw as an act of solidarity.
While some progress has been made in Georgia's urban centres, with many stray dogs sterilised and tagged, their lives remain harsh – even in the capital. In rural areas, the situation is far worse. Without sterilisation programs or organised care, stray dog populations grow unchecked, posing risks such as disease and road accidents.
 | Ana Kakalashvili A 2022 survey by a local nonprofit found that 67% of Georgians felt distressed by the sight of stray dogs, with some citing it as a major factor in urban depression. These animals are seen not only as victims of neglect, but as symbols of systemic failures that leave citizens equally vulnerable. The presence of stray dogs underscores a poignant truth: as the state fails to care for its vulnerable populations – be it human or canine – they build an undeniable bond through their struggle. |
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