Laftit Slams Media Campaign Over Stray Dogs

Rabat — Morocco’s Interior Minister, Abdelouafi Laftit, has denounced what he called a “coordinated media campaign” targeting the country over its handling of stray dogs.

He said this campaign intensified after Morocco was selected to host major international sporting events, including the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) and the 2030 FIFA World Cup.

Speaking during a parliamentary session on Tuesday, Laftit said the campaign spreads false claims and misrepresents the reality on the ground.

“The reports focus heavily on stray dogs and accuse authorities of inhumane practices without acknowledging the real efforts made to protect public health and animal rights,” he told members of the House of Advisors.

Laftit explained that stray animals, especially dogs, pose serious public health risks. In 2024, over 100,000 cases of bites and scratches were recorded. Rabies alone caused 33 deaths last year. Authorities also recorded 432 cases of hydatid disease and 64 cases of leishmaniasis.

To address the issue, the government signed a partnership agreement in 2019 with the Ministry of Health, ONSSA, and the national veterinary body.

The program focuses on scientific approaches, including surgical sterilization, rabies vaccination, and the creation of animal shelters.

So far, Morocco has built or is building 20 shelters, with one already operating in Rabat. The government allocated MAD 240 million ($ 26,58 million) over five years to support this effort.

A mobile veterinary unit in Kenitra has also been launched as a pilot project, offering treatment, vaccination, and temporary shelter for stray dogs.

Laftit said his department also allocates MAD 40 million ($ 4.43 million) annually to the Pasteur Institute to provide vaccines and antiserums, while local authorities contribute an additional MAD 40 million ($ 4.43 million) to support health centers across the country.

The Moroccan government approved on July 10 a draft law on protecting stray animals, particularly dogs, providing protection from the dangers they may pose to the public.