World Cup Host Morocco Faces Stray Dog Rescue Urgency

Morocco’s Stray‑Dog Debate Ahead of the 2030 World Cup

Animal welfare advocates claim Morocco is culling stray dogs in a bid to clean streets before the nation co‑hosts FIFA’s 2030 tournament. Moroccan officials deny the accusations, arguing they are using a non‑lethal approach known as TNVR—trap, neuter, vaccinate, release—to curb the population and protect public health.

Key Points of the Controversy

• Estimated stray‑dog population – advocates estimate about three million, though no official count exists.
• Annual bite incidents – roughly 100,000 stray‑dog bites are reported nationwide each year.
• Rabies fatalities – authorities recorded 33 rabies deaths in 2024, a disease often spread by unvaccinated animals.

Government’s TNVR Initiative

Moroccan Interior Minister Abdelouafi Laftit has highlighted the government’s commitment to protecting street animals. The TNVR method has already treated more than 4,600 dogs in Tangiers since 2016 and 500 dogs have been treated and released near Rabat this year.

Notable Clinics and Tools

• One clinic in Al Arjat near Rabat has released nearly half of the dogs it treated this year.
• A mobile app explains clinic operations and lets users report stray‑dog sightings.
• Veterinarian Youssef Lhor emphasized the need for public awareness about proper behaviour around strays.

Activists’ Calls for Action

International Animal Coalition activists have gathered nearly 75,000 signatures on a petition urging an end to violent killings of dogs on Moroccan streets and beaches. In June, an activist confronted a FIFA Club World Cup match, invading the pitch with a sign that read: “Morocco: stop shooting dogs and cats.”

Opposition and Public Pressure

• Brigitte Bardot Foundation, founded in 1986, has called on FIFA to block Morocco from hosting the 2030 tournament.
• Activists claim the government’s media attacks are “wrong and out‑of‑context information.”
• Victims of stray‑dog poisoning videos say some dogs already had ear tags, signifying prior sterilisation and vaccination.

Salima Kadaoui, founder of the Hayat project, praised the government’s efforts to protect animals and advocated for a continued partnership to extend TNVR success. She described TNVR‑tagged dogs as “like police against rabies” and stressed the importance of educating the public on proper behaviour around stray dogs and debunking myths such as “spitting on a dog bite can heal the injury.”