Animal Welfare Culture in Morocco

Seated around the lunch table today, a woman walked by carrying a cat in a carrier. In the first four days we’ve spent in Morocco, I have seen and interacted with many cats, but this woman was the first evidence of pet ownership I have seen in Morocco. In America, it is common to see families or couples out walking dogs or cats basking in the window’s afternoon sun. Give yourself four days in America, and evidence of pet ownership and the culture of animal care will be abundant. Here, while the animals are abundant, the evidence of animal care and advocacy community work requires a treasure hunt an enthused goodwill shopper would find exhilarating. 

This striking difference has both impacted me emotionally and piqued my curiosity surrounding the culture around animal care in Morocco. In Morocco, there are several small organizations focused around the work regarding animal rights, welfare, and animal community management. These organizations rely on volunteers and a small paid staff, much like animal care in the US. There are 6 Universities that offer VetMed programs to prepare students for a future in animal care and advocacy. These organizations also work to connect the public with vet care and education regarding zoonotic disease, animal care, and human health risks. 

According to ExpatFocus, while Morocco has no laws regarding pet ownership, Morocco does “criminalize animal abuse and neglect, and those found guilty can face imprisonment and fines” (Expat Focus, n.d.). However, according to the Animal Protection Index, which grades countries on an academic scale according to their animal welfare and protection laws, Morocco receives an F grade (2020, API). 

As Morocco is a majority Muslim country, dogs are culturally considered “unclean animals”, leading to this mistreatment of the stray dog population. The community focused on working with and advocating for animal welfare is small but growing in Morocco. Some recommendations from the welfare groups are as follows:

I am interested to see what other animal interactions and cultural norms we will witness while exploring the culture and communities within Morocco. 

Citations

Expat Focus. (n.d.). Morocco – Animal welfare and cultural issues. Expat Focus. https://www.expatfocus.com/morocco/guide/morocco-animal-welfare-and-cultural-issues

SPA DU MAROC. (n.d.). Stray dogs. https://spadumaroc.com/what-we-do/animal-issues/stray-dogs/

World Animal Protection. (2020, March 10). Morocco. Animal Protection Index. https://api.worldanimalprotection.org/country/morocco