Animal Rights Group calls for Morocco to address stray dog crisis ahead of 2030 World Cup

A coalition of animal rights organizations continues to stress the importance of safeguarding the lives of stray dogs in Morocco, estimating their population at around 3 million. The group also urges the government to honor international agreements protecting these animals from harmful actions by local authorities.

As Morocco prepares to co-host the 2030 FIFA World Cup with Spain and Portugal, the Network for Animals, an international animal rights organization, has issued recommendations regarding the management of Morocco’s stray dog issue in the years leading up to the tournament.

The network criticized what it described as “street cleansing operations” targeting stray dogs, pointing out that authorities have employed methods including shooting and using sharp tools, such as shovels, to eliminate these animals. The organization warned that this ongoing practice could harm the country’s reputation as international soccer officials from FIFA visit Moroccan cities that will host World Cup matches.

In its statement, the Network for Animals emphasized that, while Moroccan law prohibits the killing of dogs, authorities continue to carry out such actions. The group has called for an immediate halt to these practices, especially as preparations ramp up for the global sporting event, which could affect the lives of an estimated 3 million stray dogs in the country.

The issue of stray dogs has long been a contentious topic in Morocco. Animal welfare groups have frequently raised concerns about inhumane methods of dealing with the animals, pointing out that rather than enforcing laws that protect strays, local authorities sometimes engage in what they term “killing and culling.”

In 2019, Morocco signed a framework agreement between the Ministry of Interior, the Ministry of Health, the National Office for Food Safety (ONSSA), and animal welfare organizations. This agreement aimed to prevent the spread of zoonotic diseases from stray animals, curb their overpopulation, and ensure humane treatment by establishing shelters and providing medical care.

Slima Kaddaoui, a prominent animal rights activist in northern Morocco, told Hespress that the situation for stray dogs remains dire. “We cannot ignore what is happening on the streets—dogs being killed and targeted by local officials. This is unacceptable and must stop,” she said.

Kaddaoui added that the 2019 agreement stipulated the creation of shelters for strays and called for greater attention to providing food and veterinary care for these animals. “The priority now is to implement this agreement in full to avoid any further incidents as we approach the World Cup in 2030,” she stated.

Meanwhile, the city of Agadir, one of the Moroccan host cities for the 2030 World Cup, is working on a project to build a shelter for stray dogs and cats. The shelter, to be constructed on a 3,941-square-meter plot, will have a capacity to house up to 1,000 dogs and 200 cats. The aim is to provide a safe, sustainable environment for these animals.

Under the terms of the 2019 agreement, ONSSA is responsible for providing free vaccinations to dogs and cats against rabies, while the Ministry of Health is tasked with organizing public awareness campaigns about diseases transmitted by strays.

The National Veterinary Association has the authority to appoint licensed veterinarians to carry out sterilization and identification procedures for stray animals, while local governments are responsible for increasing sanitation efforts and maintaining shelters according to specific standards.

Recently, Interior Minister Abdelouafi Laftit reported that the Ministry has allocated nearly 70 million dirhams (approximately $7 million) through various local governments to fund initiatives aimed at building and equipping shelters for strays across the country. The Ministry is also partnering with local governments to enhance their efforts to address the growing stray animal issue.