The management of the stray dog population in Morocco raises numerous ethical and practical questions. Estimated to number between 1 and 3 million, this population of dogs poses significant challenges to public health and animal welfare. In 2019, the Moroccan authorities attempted to adopt a more humane and effective approach by signing a quadripartite agreement for the application of the TNVR (Trap, Neuter, Vaccinate, Return) program. However, due to financial and logistical limitations, this initiative has not been fully implemented. Faced with these obstacles, the authorities unfortunately opted for a method of mass extermination, criticized for its brutality and ineffectiveness.
La Società Protettiva degli Animali del Marocco has examined the challenges and suggested solutions, and calls for collective action to put an end to these inhumane practices.
Although no serious studies have been conducted, the population of stray dogs in Morocco is estimated to be between 1 and 3 million.
In 2019, a quadripartite agreement was signed to apply the TNVR program (Trap, Neuter, Vaccinate, Return – capture, sterilize, vaccinate, release), a proven method of regulating the dog population worldwide. The signatories of this agreement include the Ministry of the Interior, the Ministry of Health, the ONSSA and the Order of Veterinarians, with a rate set at 650 dirhams (€60) per dog.
To implement this program, a budget of at least 650 million dirhams (around €60 Million) to 2 billion dirhams (around €180 Million) would therefore be required.
However, there are only 1,500 veterinarians in Morocco, many of whom are not trained to perform sterilizations, let alone the latest techniques. This would require each veterinarian to operate on between 666 and 2,000 dogs.
The solution proposed by the Humane Society of Morocco during several meetings at the Ministry of the Interior and the Order of Veterinarians is to lower the price (200 dirhams/$20 per dog) and, failing that, to bring in volunteer veterinarians from abroad, to train local veterinarians to perform serial operations.
Aware of these financial, human, and logistical limitations, exacerbated by the organization of the 2025 Africa Cup and the 2030 World Cup, the Moroccan authorities opted for a “final solution” that never worked – nor here nor elsewhere – and which will never work: the mass extermination of dogs.
Instead of giving associations the means to act, the Ministry of the Interior created Local Development Companies like CasaBaia, with delegated management of this problem, to make huge profits by killing more than 300 dogs per day and billing the municipalities that use their service.
The death vans and employees of these companies roam the cities day and night to capture and exterminate as many dogs as possible in barbaric operations without the slightest gram of humanity. Thousands of dogs often die during these capture operations, and the “luckiest” ones are cremated alive in slaughterhouses like that of Hay Mohamedi after being deprived of food and water for several days, crammed 20 or 30 into cages of less than a square meter.
The irony is that even dogs vaccinated and sterilized by the grueling and thankless work of associations are not spared and do not enjoy a special status: it is enough for a citizen who does not like dogs or who is bothered by their presence to complain so that he can be killed.
Anyway, you know the song: when you want to drown your dog you say he has rabies.
The greatness of a nation can be judged by the way animals are treated. The world will not be destroyed by those who do evil, but by those who stand by and do nothing.
Although skeptical, Moroccan animal protection associations and international organizations initially welcomed this famous convention, only to quickly realize that it was only an announcement effect rather than a real policy of resolution of the problem. In fact, the convention has not been seriously developed and even less implemented.
1. Role of animal protection associations:
No one knows street animals like animal protection associations. It was therefore essential to involve them as major stakeholders in the convention, rather than assigning them secondary or tertiary roles, such as simply providing funds and raising awareness about the TNVR programme. Associations must have a major role and a right of oversight over the entire process of the TNVR operation, including budgets, dogs catching, provisional detention structures, living conditions, hospitalization, dogs release back to their original places and monitoring of released animals. We also recommend setting up a national command center to implement and supervise this program.
2. Adequate infrastructure:
First of all, we need to clarify the terms, as the devil is in the details: the terms pound, dispensary E riparo are intentionally or unintentionally confused in the terminology used by the Ministry of the Interior and the media. That said, we recommend the construction of modern dispensaries in all cities in Morocco, dedicated solely to the TNVR operation.
It is crucial to finance the construction of shelters for dogs that cannot be released (dangerous, injured, etc.) and pounds that comply with international standards, intended only for lost, wandering, quarantined animals… as a temporary place of passage (less than 15 days), waiting to find their owner, be adopted or be placed in shelters. The current pounds are dilapidated and unsuitable structures dating from the time of the French Protectorate. Currently a budget of 608 million dirhams ($60 Million) targets the creation of 76 municipal hygiene offices, the TNVR being only one component of this program), as well as the training of veterinarians in the latest spay/neuter techniques.
3. Animal Protection Law:
Gandhi said, “The greatness of a nation can be judged by the way its animals are treated.”
The Moroccan legislator must adopt an innovative animal protection law aimed at combating the abuse, abandonment and killing of animals, as well as a reform of the penal code to establish exemplary penalties against any offender. Animal owners must undertake to assume a certain number of duties and responsibilities towards the animal, but also towards this law.
4. Awareness campaign:
A national citizen awareness campaign on the TNVR program must be launched even before the start of the operation.
5. Transparency:
Total transparency is necessary for the entire TNVR operation, including budgets, resources, actions and results.
Conclusione
For the TNVR program to be a success and to effectively regulate the stray dog population in Morocco, it is imperative to reassess and correct the current deficiencies of the convention. The involvement of animal protection associations, clarification of terms and structures, improvement of infrastructure, prior awareness-raising and total transparency are key elements to achieve this objective. Only an integrated and inclusive approach will put an end to animal suffering and address public health concerns in a sustainable and humane way.
info
spadumaroc.com
