Morocco has spent $8.66 million in fight against stray dogs

RABAT - Morocco’s interior ministry has spent over 80 million dirhams ($8.66 million) in the fight against the proliferation of stray dogs which continues unabated in the North African kingdom, revealed interior minister Abdelouafi Laftit.

In response to a written question from lawmaker Fadoua Mohsin El Hayani, Laftit insisted that stray dogs pose a grave threat to public health for being the main source of serious diseases such as rabies.

The government, in collaboration with local authorities and animal welfare organizations, has been conducting mass sterilization and vaccination programmes to reduce stray dog populations humanely, with rabies vaccination drives being prioritized to protect public health.

Laftit said in parliament that the responsibility for the management of stray dogs lies primarily with municipal councils and their leaders, whose mission is to implement measures to prevent and protect public health.

"Over the past five years, a total amount of 80 million dirhams has been mobilized for the acquisition of vehicles and equipment dedicated to the collection, monitoring and management of stray animals," said Laftit.

A framework partnership and cooperation agreement was signed in 2019 bringing together several key stakeholders, including the Ministry of the Interior via the General Directorate of Local Authorities, the Ministry of Health and Social Protection, the National Office for Food Safety (ONSSA), and the National Veterinary Authority in order to effectively stem the spread of stray dogs and cats nationwide.

The interior minister said this approach has strengthened the synergy between these institutions, which have implemented an integrated approach based on proven scientific methods, the effectiveness of which has been demonstrated in several countries. 

Some non-governmental organisations, such as BMCE Foundation and AAF (Association Aïda pour les Animaux), work with the government on adoption programmes.

The government also embarked on the implementation of surgical sterilization operations to control the reproduction of animal populations, accompanied by rabies vaccination campaigns as a proactive prevention and sustainable management of this problem.

“This innovative approach, in its initial phases, aims to establish a gradual stability of the volume of stray animal populations, based on a structured and scientific strategy,” said Laftit.

“The agreement also provides for the active involvement of animal protection associations, in order to strengthen awareness and education of the general public,” he said, adding that these collaborations will contribute to the dissemination of information on the objectives and methods of sterilization operations, while encouraging humane and responsible management of these populations.

The North African kingdom has laws against animal cruelty (Penal Code Article 521-1), but local authorities have to enforce them in a bid to punish pet owners who abandon their cats and dogs.

Laftit said that rigorous monitoring will be carried out to assess the future of sterilized dogs after their release into their natural environment, with a view to sustainable management that respects the ecosystem.

The interior ministry is intensifying its support to several local authorities, by supporting the creation and equipment of collective or regional shelters dedicated to stray dogs and cats. 

“As of the end of November 2024, an investment of nearly 80 million dirhams has been mobilized for this purpose, distributed across various provinces and prefectures,” said the minister.

Laftit stressed that his ministry was actively working to strengthen public health protection offices through strategic partnerships aimed at improving their qualifications, modernization and equipment.

The interior ministry rolled out a programme (2019-2025) aimed at setting up 130 collective health protection offices, in close partnership with local authorities, in order to address the infrastructure deficit in areas lacking such structures.

This programme seeks to cover 1,244 municipalities spread across 53 regions, with a budget of 1,040 million dirhams. 

“The management of stray dog ​​and cat populations remains one of the strategic priorities of this system, mobilizing a multidisciplinary team composed of 260 veterinarians, 260 doctors, 260 health protection technicians, to which will be added 130 veterinarians specifically responsible for the management of animal shelters, in order to ensure a comprehensive, humane and sustainable response to this problem,” said Laftit.

He announced that a draft decree relating to Law No. 56.12, aimed at protection against canine dangers, is currently being developed, incorporating an animal-friendly approach. In addition, the implementation of the agreement with the Hassan II Institute, signed in July 2023, began in March 2024, promoting research on the fight against rabies through oral vaccination.

Some cities, like Casablanca and Rabat, have official sterilization partnerships with NGOs.

But most NGOs rely on donations or suffer from limited shelter space, which makes it harder for them to accommodate more animals.

The European Union (EU) has indirectly influenced Morocco's approach to stray dog management through funding, partnerships, and advocacy for animal welfare.

The EU has supported anti-rabies initiatives in Morocco through vaccination campaigns for stray dogs.

Many Moroccan stray dogs are rescued and sent to EU countries such as Germany, Netherlands and France via Moroccan NGOs, including AAF and SFT Animal Sanctuary.