The following Humane Society of Morocco Position Statements were approved by the HSM Board of Directors on February 4, 2022

MANAGEMENT OF SO-CALLED “PEST ANIMALS”:

The Humane Society of Morocco opposes inhumane methods of “pest” control where death is not instantaneous. The Humane Society of Morocco encourages utilizing non-lethal methods for preventing and managing animal species classified as “pests” wherever possible.

DOG CULLING POSITION STATEMENT:

The Humane Society of Morocco recognizes the issue that large groups of roaming dogs can pose to community members, especially children. Dog culls occur predominately after a dog bite incident; free-roaming dogs are shot to reduce the overall dog population and improve public safety. The Humane Society of Morocco strongly opposes dog culls as a method of population control and community safety measures. We advocate for humane dog population management methods and that community leadership must apply TNVR, or Trap-Neuter-Vaccinate-Release, as the only way to reduce the stray dog population in Morocco and protect public health. We strongly believe the One-health approach is the best way to control rabies and that dog culls are not the answer but specifically tailored management programs are the solution. Euthanasia as an act of inducing death humanely must be applied only when no other options are available (incurable illness or injury). The Humane Society of Morocco is working on reducing barriers to accessing humane dog population management methods for communities to eliminate the need for dog culls in communities.

DOG POPULATION MANAGEMENT POSITION STATEMENT:

The Humane Society of Morocco recognizes the need for dog population management. As an animal welfare organization, the Humane Society of Morocco supports humane dog population management strategies that lead to improved dog welfare and human well-being, and that are sustainable in the long term. The Humane Society of Morocco aims to build long-term relationships built on trust with community leadership and members. Regarding humane dog population management strategies, the Humane Society of Morocco takes the following positions:

1. Sterilization: The Humane Society of Morocco supports the surgical sterilization of dogs by licensed veterinarians using appropriate anesthesia and analgesia.
2. Removal of dogs (dog pulls): The Humane Society of Morocco does not support the removal of dogs from communities without consent from the dog’s owner or community leadership.
   • All dogs removed from the community must be removed with written consent from the owner or community leadership.
   • The Humane Society of Morocco aims to keep pets with their families; we accept relinquished dogs with medical distress.

STERILIZATION:

The Humane Society of Morocco is a strong supporter of the surgical sterilization of dogs, cats, and rabbits by experienced veterinarians using appropriate anesthesia and analgesia. The Humane Society of Morocco believes that spaying and neutering are essential to responsible pet ownership. All dogs, cats, and rabbits adopted from the Humane Society of Morocco are sterilized before being adopted out to a new home.

EUTHANASIA:

The Humane Society of Morocco opposes the use of euthanasia as a method for population control. The Humane Society of Morocco makes every effort to avoid euthanizing animals and only employs accepted humane methods to do so.

The Humane Society of Morocco follows a no-kill philosophy, which is based on saving all animals that come to us. We believe that no healthy, treatable, behaviorally sound animal should have to be euthanized in our community. We only reserve euthanasia for animals whose prognosis is poor and whose quality of life is compromised or those that pose a danger to public safety. We are working towards this goal by supporting other associations and those. Our commitment to this philosophy is evident in our live release rate of 99.9% for the animals under our care. We can have this excellent outcome by having programming and activities centered on our four pillars of focus which are prevention, retention, placement, and education.

PET BREEDING:

The Humane Society of Morocco opposes pet breeding solely for profit and without proper regard for the health and safety of the animals. Such examples range from backyard breeders to large-scale puppy mills, who seek financial gain over the well-being of the individual animals.

Animal abuse registries are an important law enforcement tool and screening mechanism to protect animals from harm. The Humane Society of Morocco supports the creation of a national animal abuse registry and calls on all levels of government to work together to create a comprehensive registry accessible by law enforcement and those organizations that sell or offer to adopt animals to the general public (such as animal shelters and pet stores).

TAIL-DOCKING:

The Humane Society of Morocco opposes the amputation of tails on canines for aesthetic and showing purposes. The Humane Society of Morocco does not oppose the docking of a dog’s tail when deemed medically necessary by a certified Veterinarian.

EAR-CROPPING:

The Humane Society of Morocco opposes dog’s ears cropping for aesthetic and showing purposes. The Humane Society of Morocco does not oppose dog’s ear(s) cropping when deemed medically necessary by a certified Veterinarian.

ANIMAL IDENTIFICATION METHODS:

The Humane Society of Morocco supports the tattooing practice of the ears of canines and felines as a permanent identification means, only when done by a certified veterinary professional, using proper anesthesia and analgesia. The Humane Society of Morocco does not support clamp tattoos usage as a means of identification.

The Humane Society of Morocco supports the practice of microchipping canines and felines subcutaneously, as a means of permanent identification, only when done by a certified veterinary professional, with the recommendation of using proper anesthesia and analgesia methods.

INTENSIVE CONFINEMENT OF FARM ANIMALS:

The Humane Society of Morocco opposes intensive confinement practices found within industrialized agriculture. Such practices often see hundreds to thousands of species housed within a single area, where their ability to move, walk, or display natural behaviors is greatly restricted.

Position Statement Regarding Wild Animals, Exotic Pets and Presentations:

Approved by the HSM Board of Directors in November 2021

The Humane Society of Morocco supports limitations on the number and type of exotic animals that can be kept as pets. Further, the Humane Society of Morocco strongly opposes the taking of animals from the wild into captivity, for entertainment or companionship purposes. Our organization continues to advocate for the highest welfare standards possible for all animals kept as pets regardless of species. As many exotic animals have complex and highly specific husbandry needs, we encourage prospective owners to seek companionship from animals who have proven to thrive when under human care.
The Humane Society of Morocco does not support the transportation and use of exotic animals in traveling displays, educational presentations, or for entertainment purposes. Exotic animals not only pose a public safety risk during interactions, but they also force non-domesticated species to be displayed in unnatural, stress-inducing environments. The Humane Society of Morocco feels that the handling and parading of exotics in unconventional settings promotes ownership, rather than conservation, of complex, misunderstood, and sometimes dangerous animals.

The Humane Society of Morocco opposes the farming of animals in Morocco for their fur.

The following HSM Position Statements were approved by the HSM Board of Directors on July 05, 2021

CARRIAGE HORSES / HORSE & CAMEL RIDDING:

The Humane Society of Morocco opposes the use of carriage horses, poneys or camels for entertainment purposes. Numerous reports have surfaced nationally showing carriage horses succumbing to their exhaustion, as well as retired carriage horses being bid on by meat buyers at horse auctions.

HORSE EXPORTATION:

The Humane Society of Morocco opposes the live exportation of purposely bred draft horses to international destinations like Japan for human consumption.

HORSE & DONKEY SLAUGHTER:

The Humane Society of Morocco opposes the purchasing of horses and donkeys from auctions to send them to slaughter within Morocco. Compromised, geriatric, and companion horses and donkeys are among those purchased, and go on to travel vast distances to one of Morocco’s nationally approved equines slaughterhouses. The Humane Society of Morocco feels that this industry is not regulated strongly enough, and therefore has the potential to cause severe human health risks and severe equine welfare concerns.

PMU Farming:

The Humane Society of Morocco opposes the practice of keeping a mare pregnant and confined within a stall during her entire pregnancy, to collect her urine (Pregnant Mare Urine) for pharmaceutical use.

ANIMAL TRAINING METHODS:

The HSM supports training methods that revolve around how each animal processes and learns about their environment. As such, the HSM utilizes humane teaching methods in an environment that promotes kindness and respect for the welfare of the animal.

When training, the HSM supports the use of positive reinforcement methods such as treats and play rewards and does not support methods of handling that evoke fear or inflict pain.

The HSM is opposed to any training equipment that causes an animal to experience physical discomfort or undue fear or anxiety. Such examples include pinch collars, shock collars, water spraying, electric fences, and more.

SERVICE ANIMALS:

The Humane Society of Morocco supports service animal usages such as guide dogs and therapy dogs as well as emotional support animals when positive reinforcement methods are used to train them and their use as service animals does not harm them. The Humane Society of Morocco acknowledges the pivotal role these animals can play in maintaining a person’s overall well-being and calls on all levels of government to further regulate and protect these animals and those who rely upon them.

ANIMAL ACTIVISTS:

Approved by the HSM Board of Directors in 2020

The Humane Society of Morocco opposes legislation or practices that are intended to silence whistleblowers from revealing animal abuses and make it more difficult to enforce animal protection laws, which decreases the welfare of animals by targeting those advocating on their behalf. The Humane Society of Morocco calls on all levels of government to instead strengthen animal protection laws, take meaningful steps to increase enforcement of those laws and protect whistleblowers.

ZOOS & AQUARIUMS:

Approved by the HSM Board of Directors on February 17, 2020

The Humane Society of Morocco understands the dire need for local and international conservation efforts to be employed by accredited organizations, to mitigate habitat destruction and species extinction. As such, the HSM acknowledges that accredited non-profit zoological facilities and aquariums do have a role to play in conservation and public education initiatives.

The HSM applauds facilities that hold a primary focus on the following mandates:

• Preserve and restore endangered species populations through captive breeding and release programs;
• Support the investigation of cruelty cases involving exotic animals requiring specialized care;
• Financially support and partner with global conservation programs;
• Educate the public on the needs of wild animals, and their ecosystems, and how to help.

The Humane Society of Morocco strongly encourages existing accredited zoological facilities to shift their focus away from displaying live animal species as a means of public education. Rather, the HSM encourages such facilities to focus on launching local and global animal conservation initiatives, while simultaneously acting as refuges and sanctuaries for un-releasable wildlife and confiscated exotic pets.

Specifically, the HSM encourages accredited zoological facilities to transition by:

• Only breeding species classified as endangered, according to their Species Survival Program, including a plan to reintroduce offspring back into the wild;
• Provide larger public education displays that stress the themes of climate change, habitat destruction, and appropriate courses of action that the public can take;
• Take into account the complex and lasting maternal and social relationships various animals form, and the psychological impact that occurs when separating and shipping animals to other facilities;
• Exceed currently accepted industry standards as they relate to the training and husbandry of all animals within zoological facilities, including the ability to allow all housed species to carry out their most basic instincts like flying, migrating, burrowing, foraging, etc.;
• Act as sanctuaries for un-releasable wild animals and refuges for the thousands of inappropriate exotic pets that could be found across Morocco;
• Pledge to stop transporting display animals (including reptiles) off-site to use them as live props while conducting educational programs.

The Humane Society of Morocco strongly opposes facilities that display wild animals and the primary business is to profit from public interaction and viewing of the displayed animals. These types of activities have no place in a humane and respectful community.