Animal welfare advocates have raised concerns over the Moroccan government’s proposed draft law, which is set to be reviewed on Thursday, July 10. They are calling for immediate action to end the country’s brutal street dog culling program, or risk being seen as insincere.
The proposed law, titled “Protection of Animals and Prevention of Their Dangers”, has been deemed by the International Animal Welfare Protection Coalition (IAWPC) as lacking concrete measures to stop the daily killings of dogs. The IAWPC, which consists of 26 animal welfare organizations such as the RSPCA, PETA, and Dogs Trust, has discovered that Morocco has been systematically and brutally culling dogs, both stray and owned, in preparation for its role as co-host of the 2030 FIFA World Cup. The group estimates that up to three million dogs could be killed before the tournament begins.
According to the IAWPC, Moroccan “death squads” have been patrolling towns and cities near World Cup stadium sites, engaging in activities such as shooting, poisoning, and capturing dogs, in what they describe as a campaign of “relentless and merciless” violence. These killings are often carried out in front of children and tourists.
Les Ward MBE, Chairman of the IAWPC, has expressed disappointment in the Moroccan government’s handling of the situation, stating that they have repeatedly misled the public about the extent of the killings. He also mentioned that the government has ignored offers from the IAWPC to assist in implementing a humane dog management strategy, including large-scale Trap-Neuter-Vaccinate-Release (TNVR) programs, which have been proven to be effective in other countries in controlling rabies. Ward also highlighted warnings from the World Health Organization (WHO), which has stated that mass dog culling is not an effective method for controlling rabies, a disease that still remains present in Morocco.
The IAWPC is now calling on FIFA to intervene and demand that Morocco puts an end to the mass killing of dogs and adopts proven, humane alternatives. Evidence has also been uncovered by the IAWPC that “tagged dogs”, which have been rabies vaccinated and sterilized, are having their tags removed after being killed, resulting in a decrease in herd immunity and an increased risk of rabies transmission for local communities and tourists.
Ward stressed that the Moroccan government should leave behind outdated methods and instead choose humane solutions. He also warned that if the government continues with its dog killing program, it will face condemnation and damage its tourist industry. The solution, according to Ward, is simple: the proposed draft law must put an end to the cruelty and killing of dogs in any form.
The IAWPC’s campaign can be found on their website, www.iawpc.org, and on Instagram at @iawpc. In a recent interview with CNN, Mohammed Roudani, Head of the Public Health and Green Spaces Division at Morocco’s Ministry of Interior, stated that “We must deal with the issue in a different way. No more slaughter. No more strychnine. We need an ethical solution.”
In conclusion, Ward stated that the government must choose to end the cruelty and killing of dogs and to follow humane solutions. If not, the IAWPC will continue to oppose their actions, which will ultimately damage their tourist industry.