Animal Rights Group Alleges Mass Culling of Stray Dogs in Morocco Ahead of 2030 World Cup

Are the Moroccan authorities trying to please FIFA officials by getting rid of all the stray dogs on the streets and massacring them? According to witnesses, gunshots are being fired, and dogs are left injured or dying. Those who do not succumb to the bullets are beaten to death with shovels by the local authorities, reports Network for Animals (NFA) on its website. As for the dogs that are not killed on the street, they are systematically gathered and sent to overcrowded and underfunded municipal shelters, where they are regularly poisoned, the same source reports, adding that animals are crammed into cramped spaces, sprayed with water and electrocuted in these "shelters".

A massacre is underway before the arrival of FIFA officials who are conducting a "thorough investigation" into the joint candidacy of Morocco, Spain and Portugal and are expected to make site visits where matches could take place in these three countries. According to the International Coalition for the Protection and Welfare of Animals, up to 3 million dogs could be killed in the run-up to the 2030 World Cup if the dog massacre continues.

"The Moroccan authorities are so determined to kill as many dogs as possible before the arrival of FIFA officials that they are violating their own laws to do so. Moroccan laws prohibit the culling of stray dogs, but the authorities continue to kill them while the police turn a blind eye," denounces NFA. Present in Morocco for years, the organization says it supports various animal protection initiatives, including trap, neuter, vaccinate and release (TNVR) programs.

"But with death squads roaming the streets, killing every dog they see, shelter workers are terrified to release the animals back onto the streets. Today, the dogs are not being released but kept safe in increasingly overcrowded shelters," adds NFA. Today, the organization says it lacks the financial resources to continue its mission.

"Our partner shelters are at their wits’ end and their resources are depleted. Funds are running out, but more food and medical care is still needed to care for the additional dogs until the carnage is over. If we can raise $15,000 (£12,000), we can help feed and care for 1,000 dogs for a month," it said, appealing to the public to help care for the dogs and fight the ongoing massacre by making a donation.