Morocco’s law on stray animals takes effect: What are its key provisions and penalties?

Morocco’s Law No. 19.25 on the protection of stray animals and the prevention of related risks has officially entered into force after being published in Official Gazette No. 7533.

The law, enacted by Royal Decree No. 1.26.55 on July 28, 2026, after approval by both houses of Parliament, regulates the care of stray animals and bans individuals from sheltering, feeding, or treating them without authorization while introducing fines for violations.

The bill sparked controversy this year over tougher penalties for violations, including higher fines and prison sentences.

The prison terms for certain violations were later removed during a session of the House of Representatives’ Production Sectors Committee attended by members of the Popular Movement, Socialist Union and PJD groups and Agriculture Minister Ahmed Bouaari, which also introduced several other changes to the bill.

Key provisions of the law:

According to the Official Gazette, a stray animal is defined as any animal found in a public space, whether temporarily or permanently, without being under the control or supervision of its owner or caretaker.

The law requires stray animals to be protected from serious and infectious diseases, as well as killing, torture, violence and other forms of abuse.

It also allows people to report stray animals in public spaces, particularly when they pose a threat to public health or safety.

Yet, the law states that individuals may only shelter, feed or treat stray animals under the conditions set by the law and its implementing regulations.

It additionally requires animal owners and caretakers to take measures to protect their animals, prevent them from straying, keep a health record, and register them through the designated online platform.

Also, owners must immediately report any changes to an animal’s registered information, including its death or serious illness, and report any change of ownership within 24 hours.

If a registered animal goes missing, its owner must report it through the designated online platform within three days.

Once the animal is found and placed in a care center, the owner should be notified and given 10 days to collect it and cover its care costs.

The law considers the animal abandoned if the owner fails to collect it within that period.

Fines and penalties:

For violations, the law sets fines ranging from MAD 500 to MAD 300,000, with some offenses also carrying prison terms.

Deliberately killing, torturing, or harming a stray animal carries two to six months in prison and a fine of MAD 5,000 to MAD 20,000, or either penalty alone.

Deliberately putting an animal at risk also carries a fine of MAD 5,000 to MAD 20,000, while running a stray animal care center without a license carries a fine of MAD 50,000 to MAD 300,000.

The law additionally sets fines of MAD 1,000 to MAD 5,000 for failing to register an animal or keep its health record and MAD 500 to MAD 2,000 for sheltering, feeding, or treating a stray animal in a public space.

It states that deliberately causing an animal to stray is punishable by MAD 10,000 to MAD 20,000, while failing to report a missing animal or update its information carries MAD 5,000 to MAD 10,000.

Owners can also face a fine of MAD 5,000 to MAD 15,000 for failing to take the required measures after an animal died or suffered from a serious illness.