Animal rights groups and NGOs in Morocco are claiming that Tangier authorities are killing stray dogs in the city, ahead of the FIFA Club World Club launch.
According to the Animal Sanctuary of Tangier (SFT), an animal protection association, several stray dogs in the city were poisoned, despite being sterilized and vaccinated by the NGO.
“Due to the visit of FIFA, the Wali of Tangier gave the order to kill all stray dogs and the dog killer contacted me to tell me that all marked dogs should be recovered,” said the association in a post published Tuesday.
“I am asking anyone in Tangier able to help transport dogs to the property we had to rent because of the Wali, which used to be the mini-sanctuary, to please help us. The mini-sanctuary is attached to the sanctuary. Thank you to the Tangier community for helping because three marked dogs have already been killed,” SFT continued.
“This is devastating. We are working so hard to educate the community, to protect everyone from the disease. The law states that it is illegal to poison or shoot dogs. It seems that local authorities do not care,” the association still insists.
The SFT alerts caused outrage on social networks, as many Moroccans called out the practice, which contradicts Moroccan legislation that stipulates that stray animals should be sterilized and vaccinated, but never killed unless dying.
The Moroccan Ministry of the Interior has allocated up to MAD 70 million over the past few years to help with vaccination programs.
This is not the first time that the association denounces such campaigns in the city. Last October, Morocco launched a similar operation conducted on the eve of a royal visit, to eliminate the stray animals from its streets.
For now, the city authorities have not yet reacted to the public and civil society’s calls for an explanation.
Morocco will host the FIFA Club World Cup between the cities of Tangier and Rabat, from the 1st to the 11th of February.
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