Morocco Tightens Restrictions on Dangerous Dog Breeds to Enhance Public Safety

In this memorandum, the DGSN insists on the need to intensify and continue security operations aimed at combating the possession, escort, taming and use of dogs classified in the ferocious category, which represent a threat to the security and physical safety of citizens. The document refers to the provisions of law 56-12 relating to "the prevention and protection of persons against the dangers of dogs", which prohibits the possession, domestication, purchase, sale and breeding of dogs classified as dangerous.

Law 56-12 was passed in August 2013. According to this text, "a dangerous dog is a dog that presents, by the nature of its breed or its morphological characteristics, an aggression deemed dangerous for man". The passage of this text is justified by a fear of the rise in cases of dog bites. Morocco records 50,000 cases per year. Many people have been bitten by dangerous dogs, including pit bulls and rottweilers.

According to the new memorandum, the possession of "ferocious" dogs will be considered an offense punishable by legal proceedings. Any dog owner accused of violating the law faces a maximum sentence of five years in prison and fines of up to 50,000 DH.

These guidelines demonstrate the DGSN’s determination to intervene decisively in order to discourage the phenomenon of breeding and taming ferocious dogs. Especially since it has been observed on several occasions that suspects use these dogs to prevent the police from carrying out interventions.