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Rabat – Activists and citizens across Morocco have reiterated their anger and frustration with the mistreatment and unjustified killing of stray animals across Morocco, including in Casablanca.
This latest backlash over the chronic mistreatment of animals comes after new videos documenting the inhumane collecting of stray animals, particularly dogs, went viral online.
Some citizens and activists have accused Casa Baia, a local development association tasked with tackling and managing as well as improving the living environment across Casablanca, of being the principal culprit in the recent wave of the mistreatment and massacre of scores of dogs in Casablanca and its vicinity.
Taking to various social media platforms, many activists and citizens have shared videos and pictures of Casa Baia’s mistreatment of stray dogs, with calls asking the government as well as King Mohammed VI to intervene.
In particular, some activists have accused Casa Baia of “burning” cats and dogs alive.
‘These animals are also God’s creatures’
The animal rights group “All United for Animal Rights in Morocco” shared an appeal from an activist, who denounced Casa Baia’s “barbaric” and mistreatment of stray animals.
“Despite the high instructions given by his majesty Mohammed VI, Casa Baia captures stray dogs and cats to burn them alive at the abattoirs of Casablanca. We are in the land of Islam, such barbarity cannot be tolerated. These animals are also gods’ creatures,” the appeal reads.
Some videos show stray dogs captured and locked up inside closed trucks with tiny cages.
A viral video online shows women denouncing the inhumane and mistreatment of stray animals as well as the savage methods used during the collecting of stray dogs.
One of the videos shows women climbing a pickup truck where the animals were locked up to set them free.
The video also shows a woman angrily arguing against this inhumane collecting of stray dogs.
Another video showing workers catching dogs tightly through their necks also sparked outrage online.
The Humane Society of Morocco, an animal rights group, shared the video on April 23, showing women shouting at workers who were pulling dogs whose necks were tightly wrapped by a catching pole.
“He will suffocate, he is suffocating. Are you serious?” the video shows one of the women saying.
Casa Baia’s website includes a section where people “bothered” by stray animals like dogs can fill out a form for the association to intervene.
“Does the presence of a stray animal (dog/cat) in your neighborhood bother you? Is the multiplication of rodents or harmful insects on nearby public roads making your life difficult?” Casa Baia’s website asks readers.
The page is also accompanied by a picture depicting a person pulling a dog, whose neck is tightly captured by a catch pole.
Read also: Uproar Grows in Morocco Over Stray Dogs Maltreatment in Abandoned Shelter Near Rabat
Morocco World News (MWN) tried to reach out to Casa Baia for comment on its alleged involvement in the horrendous killing of stray dogs, but the association has been unreachable at the time of writing.
Commenting on the picture the association used on its website, activist Salima Kadaoui denounced its lack of compassion.
Casa Baia’s website includes a picture depicting a person pulling a dog, whose neck is tightly captured by a catch pole
Kadioui, who is the President and Founder of SFT Animal Sanctuary in Tangier said: “This image represents a total lack of empathy. Sadly we see this a lot in poor countries. Morocco wants to be considered civilized.”
She also emphasized the importance of treating all living beings with “love, care, compassion, empathy, humanity. The world is watching us. Let’s be the role model country.”
The incident has revived the age-old debate over the maltreatment of stray dogs in Morocco despite repeated pledges by the government to embrace animals’ rights and adequately punish anyone found guilty of mistreating an animal.
Just last month, the world of Morocco’s advocacy groups and animal rights activists was shaken by a similar controversy near Rabat.
Videos and pictures showing stray dogs being locked up and left to starve in an abandoned shelter in Al-Arjat, a village near Rabat, sparked uproar among citizens and activists who called for action against similar inhumane treatment of dogs.
The videos shocked many, particularly as some of the hungry- and tired-looking dogs were shown feeding on the rotten flesh of other dogs that had died after going days without any food, water, or medical attention.
“Poisoning and killing animals is illegal in Morocco,” Kadioui stressed.
