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Rabat — In a powerful movement to protect animal rights, Moroccan influencers have launched a nationwide campaign aimed at ending the culling of stray dogs in Morocco. The initiative has gained significant traction on social media.
Not only does the campaign draw attention to the cruelty against stray dogs, but it also urges Moroccan citizens to join the initiative to pressure the government to adopt more humane solutions for managing the country’s growing stray dog population.
The campaign comes in response to the authorities’ recent culling that targets stray dogs ahead of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) and the 2030 World Cup.
The initiative uses the hashtag #لا_لقتل_الكلاب (No to dogs’ killing), calling Moroccan social media users to reshare and help stop the killing of dogs.
“Innocent dogs should not be killed,” one social media influencer said, adding that this has been an old practice that got intensified with the two landmark sporting gatherings approaching.
Animal rights situation in Morocco
Reports have raised concerns over the widespread cruelty against animals, including poisoning, shooting, and trapping of stray dogs, a practice that continues to be reported in several cities across Morocco.
The Moroccan Society for the Protection of Animals and Nature (SPANA) indicates that the number of stray dogs in Morocco is over 2 million. The big number and the lack of resources and infrastructure to handle this large population in the country make stray dog management a complex and controversial issue.
Globally, sterilization has been shown as one of the effective ways to reduce the stray dog population over time in a more humane way.
However, such programs are underfunded and insufficiently implemented in Morocco. Animal rights organizations have called for the government to increase its investment in sterilization clinics and shelters to address the root causes of the problem.
Despite the dire situation, a number of initiatives have emerged in recent years to protect animals and promote welfare. In cities like Tangier, Casablanca, and Marrakech, local NGOs and volunteers have established shelters that provide care, rehabilitation, and adoption services for stray dogs.
But these shelters are often underfunded, overcrowded, and unable to meet the demand for care. According to SPANA, there are currently only 14 animal shelters in Morocco, a stark contrast to the over 2 million stray dogs in need of help.
“Morocco is rated as a very poor (“F”) performer under the Animal Protection Index (API), and its farmed animal protection legislation achieved the worst performance rating (“G”) under the same index,” according to the Voiceless Animal Cruelty Index organization.
The organization further indicates that in the country, “few regulations address the rearing, transport, and slaughter of farmed animals, and farrowing crates, sow stalls, and cages are not banned.”
Official denies mass culling of stray dogs
As reports of stray dogs’ mass culling have emerged recently, a Moroccan official has denied the accusations.
The official refuted the report as “completely unfounded,” rejecting claims that authorities are planning to kill three million stray dogs ahead of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) and the 2030 World Cup.
“There is no campaign to eradicate stray dogs,” he said, adding that “the claims that Morocco is planning to eliminate three million stray dogs before the World Cup have no basis.”
His statement comes in response to growing criticism from animal rights groups and activists, who have accused Morocco of carrying out mass killings of stray dogs ahead of major tournaments.
As the campaign continues to grow, its success may ultimately depend on how quickly the government and local authorities act to address the issue of stray dogs in Morocco. With more than 2 million stray dogs on the streets across the country, many citizens have maintained that the time for change is now.
