A shocking new law proposed in Morocco will criminalize the feeding and sheltering of stray dogs and cats, while paving the way for relentless mass killings, if passed. As a member of the International Animal Welfare Protection Coalition (IAWPC), a collective of 27 respected animal welfare groups from around the world, Network for Animals strongly condemns Moroccan Draft Law 19.25 (Concerning the Protection of Stray Animals and the Prevention of Their Dangers) and urges the government to significantly amend or scrap the law.
Alongside our partners at the IAWPC, Network for Animals is joining a global day of action today, 20 August 2025, to protest Morocco’s ongoing war against stray dogs as the nation prepares to host the FIFA Soccer World Cup.
Background and summary
Moroccan authorities have been ruthlessly killing the nation’s stray dogs, particularly those in tourist hotspots, in an effort to ‘clean up the streets’ before soccer enthusiasts arrive to watch the FIFA World Cup matches taking place in the country. Network for Animals has been campaigning against these efforts to exterminate stray dogs since we became aware of the coordinated massacre last year.
Many of these killings take place in public, often in front of children, tourists and residents. Dogs are killed using shotguns or poison, or are violently beaten to death in the streets.
As bad as the situation is for stray dogs in Morocco right now, this new draft law will make things exponentially worse for the animals – and for those who are fighting to save them.
“This draft law wants to criminalize even the most basic care for Morocco’s stray dogs and cats, with fines and prison time for anyone who feeds, shelters or provides medical treatment for these vulnerable animals,” says Network for Animals Executive Director David Barritt. “If passed, our partners in the country and our teams on the ground will become criminals overnight.”
As per Article 5: “No person may care for a stray animal, whether by sheltering, feeding, or treating it.”
Not only does Draft Law 19.25 ban animal-lovers – whether citizens or full-time animal welfare activists – from caring for stray animals, it essentially gives the authorities the green light to kill any dog they see as a problem. Couched in careful legalese, the draft gives authorities the power to “put an end to the danger of stray animals if it poses a threat to public order and security,” without outlining humane removal or euthanasia methods, and without defining what a ‘danger’ might be.
With authorities already slaughtering stray dogs in horrific ways for little to no reason, we have no doubt that this will be interpreted as unconditional approval to kill even more dogs – this time, with legal backing.
The proof is in the preparation – reports have just emerged that the Moroccan government has allocated around $900,000 (£665,730) to purchase euthanasia drugs for dogs, cats and other animals.
A Global Day of Action
The IAWPC and its members have announced a Global Day of Action on Wednesday, 20th August 2025, and is calling on animal-lovers worldwide to protest Morocco’s ongoing mass killing of free roaming dogs ahead of the 2030 FIFA World Cup and to condemn Draft Law 19.25.
“This proposed law is a legalised death sentence for street dogs,” says IAWPC Chair Les Ward. It criminalises kindness, punishes compassion and protects cruelty… We’re urging the world to speak up on August 20th.”
Downton Abbey star Peter Egan, a long-time animal rights campaigner and supporter of the IAWPC, said:
“This is nothing short of state-sanctioned slaughter. I’ve seen the horrific images coming out of Morocco, and they will haunt me forever. Kind-hearted people are being punished for trying to save lives, while innocent animals are being brutally killed to appease a global sporting event. We must take a stand.”
Peter Egan joins a growing list of well-known supporters including Dr Jane Goodall, Chris Packham, Gary Numan, and Lorraine Kelly, all of whom have condemned the killings and called on Morocco to adopt humane alternatives, such as Trap-Neuter-Vaccinate-Release (TNVR).
The Day of Action on 20 August will comprise a range of actions which include peaceful protests, the feeding of animals by Moroccan people, online campaigns, and direct appeals to FIFA, which has so far remained silent on the ongoing extermination of the host nation’s stray dogs.
Animal-lovers worldwide are encouraged to write to both FIFA and the Moroccan government to express their concern and outrage regarding Draft Law 19.25, and to urge the organization and authorities to stop the needless and inhumane slaughter of the nation’s stray dogs. Emails can be sent to [email protected] and [email protected].
Supporters of this crucial cause can also sign our global petition here, and spread the word on social media using the following hashtags: #StopKillingDogsInMorocco #IAWPC #MoroccoDogsDayOfAction #MoroccoIsTheirHomeToo #AmendTheDogKillingLaw