Morocco prepares to adopt a bill that would overhaul the management of stray animals, with the goal of balancing public health concerns with stronger protections for animal welfare.
Mohamed Roudani, head of the sanitation and green spaces department at the General Directorate of Local Authorities, confirmed that the draft law addresses every aspect of the stray animal issue, primarily dogs and cats, that has long challenged Moroccan cities.
In an interview with Hespress, Roudani explained that the bill introduces a comprehensive framework prohibiting the unjustified killing of stray animals and establishing clear guidelines for their humane management.
The law’s goal, he said, is to safeguard public health while ensuring proper care and protection for stray animals, regulating their reproduction, and controlling their spread in line with animal welfare principles.
The draft, which is nearing completion, will soon enter the legislative process. In the meantime, related implementation regulations are being developed to accompany it.
Roudani stressed that Morocco’s stray animal crisis, especially involving cats and dogs, has made it necessary to adopt measures to contain serious health risks such as rabies, hydatid disease, and leishmaniasis.
Stray animals also pose nuisances and dangers to residents, particularly children. “Over 100,000 people are attacked by these animals each year and require medical treatment and rabies vaccines,” he noted.
He revealed that Morocco spends around 80 million dirhams annually on preventive treatments, with costs split between the General Directorate of Local Authorities and municipal budgets.
“The collection and management of stray animals are the responsibility of municipal councils, falling under administrative policing related to public health, sanitation, and traffic safety,” Roudani added.
The bill builds on a 2019 framework agreement between the Ministry of the Interior, the Ministry of Health and Social Protection, the National Office for Food Safety (ONSSA), and the National Association of Veterinary Doctors.
This agreement set the foundation for a humane approach: collecting stray animals, housing them in shelters, sterilizing them to curb overpopulation, vaccinating them against rabies, treating parasites, tagging and microchipping them, and then returning them to their original environments.
Returning animals to their territories, Roudani explained, prevents other strays from taking over and helps maintain ecological balance and community safety.
To support this effort, municipalities are receiving assistance to open new shelters meeting international standards, with the long-term aim of nationwide coverage. Annual funding also helps local governments purchase trucks and equipment designed for safe animal transport.
Roudani highlighted a broader initiative to establish 130 municipal health offices across Morocco, backed by more than one billion dirhams in funding, to ensure uniform national coverage. These offices will be staffed by over 900 medical and paramedical personnel, including veterinarians, who will oversee the stray animal shelters and management centers.
The humane treatment and management of stray animals, he emphasized, is a fundamental pillar of Morocco’s public health and safety strategy.
The bill’s announcement comes as pressure mounts from civil society. A coalition of animal rights groups and social media influencers recently launched an online campaign demanding an end to the killing of stray dogs in several cities. Using the hashtag “no to killing dogs,” the movement seeks to raise awareness and promote humane alternatives for managing the growing stray population.
The campaign quickly gained traction, with activists, influencers, and artists sharing stark images and videos depicting the harsh realities stray animals face. Organizers argue that the ongoing culling of stray dogs violates Morocco’s international commitments to animal welfare and contradicts the values of compassion deeply embedded in Moroccan culture. Public outcry has intensified following the circulation of disturbing footage showing violent removal operations.
Campaigners hope the movement will spark a broader societal dialogue that weighs both human and animal welfare within a framework of ethical and legal standards.
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