Join on WhatsApp
Join on Telegram
Rabat – Morocco’s Minister of the Interior, Abdelouafi Laftit, has reportedly announced that the government is working with many local authorities to create and equip new centers for collecting and sheltering stray animals. The aim of the initiative is to build facilities that meet international standards and eventually make them available across the country, he detailed.
According to Laftit, about MAD 260 million have been spent in the last five years to help municipalities collect, sterilize, and manage stray animals safely. More than 20 centers have already been planned by the end of October.
One regional center in Aamer is already operating, while construction is almost finished in Casablanca, Tangier, Marrakech, Agadir, and Oujda. Other facilities are under construction or waiting for financing approval in cities such as Ifrane, Sidi Slimane, Kenitra, Errachidia, Khouribga, and Dakhla.
The minister also revealed a new project of a mobile veterinary unit in Kenitra. This mobile center can move between regions and provide vaccinations, treatment, sterilization, and temporary shelter for dogs and cats. Laftit said this model is especially useful in areas that do not have permanent infrastructure. If the pilot project is successful, it will be expanded nationwide.
The Interior Ministry noted the growing health risks linked to stray animals. Morocco recorded over 100,000 cases of bites or scratches, 33 deaths from rabies, 432 cases of hydatid disease, and 64 cases of visceral leishmaniasis in 2024. Laftit stated that managing stray animals is part of the responsibility of local governments and is important for public safety.
The issue of stray dogs continues to spark debate in Morocco. Many animal rights activists argue that the animals must be protected and treated humanely. They insist that municipalities should invest more in sterilization, vaccination, and shelter programs instead of harmful or violent methods.
Claims of dog killings
Over the last year, rumors have circulated on social media claiming that Morocco planned to kill large numbers of stray dogs ahead of major international events, such as the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) and the 2030 World Cup. These rumors caused outrage among activists and international observers.
The Moroccan government has strongly denied these accusations, saying that its strategy is focused on humane treatment, veterinary care, and public-health protection, not on eliminating dogs. Officials repeatedly stated that mass killing is not part of the national plan.
A Reuters fact-check recently debunked a viral photo that was shared online as supposed evidence of dog killings in Morocco. The image, which showed a man pointing a gun at a dog, was actually taken in Iraq in 2008, not in Morocco. Morocco’s Interior Ministry told Reuters that authorities are using “ethical and sustainable” methods to manage stray animals, not mass killing.
Stray dogs remain a serious challenge in many Moroccan cities, as they sometimes affect public health and safety. The government says the new centers, mobile units, and sterilization programs will help manage the situation more effectively.
