Outrage in Morocco: Dog Owner Faces Investigation for Ordering Kitten’s Death

Under the supervision of the competent prosecutor’s office, the judicial police are conducting an investigation to shed light on the case of the isolated, weak and helpless kitten killed by a dog, on the orders of its owner. The video of the animal’s torture was posted on social media last Wednesday. On the web, the hashtag "prison for the cat killer" was launched, to denounce the torture and death of this kitten. Many Internet users have called for the woman to be prosecuted.

If the facts are proven, the dog’s owner could face serious consequences. In Morocco, acts of torture committed against an animal are punishable by imprisonment and fines.

Under Article 601 of the Moroccan Penal Code, "whoever poisons draft animals, riding or pack animals, horned cattle, sheep, goats or other livestock, guard dogs or fish in ponds, fish farms or reservoirs, shall be punished by imprisonment of one to five years and a fine of 200 to 500 dirhams".

As for Article 602 of the same Code, it stipulates that "whoever, without necessity, kills or mutilates one of the animals mentioned in the previous article or any domestic animal, in the places, buildings, enclosures and outbuildings or on the lands of which the master of the animal killed or mutilated is the owner, tenant or farmer, shall be punished by imprisonment of two to six months and a fine of 120 to 250 dirhams. If the offense was committed with a violation of enclosure, the prison sentence shall be doubled".