First-Ever Day of the Morocco Dog Planned to Stand Against Mass Killings
Tomorrow, March 1, 2025, marks the first Day of the Morocco Dog, a global event designed to raise awareness of the horrific plight of Morocco’s three million street dogs, who are being brutally slaughtered in a gruesome "clean-up" ahead of the 2030 FIFA World Cup.
The event is organized by the International Animal Welfare Protection Coalition (IAWPC), a coalition of respected animal charities, including Species Unite, and will bring together participants worldwide to walk or run a sponsored 5K in solidarity with the dogs being murdered in Morocco. Despite repeated false claims from both FIFA and the Kingdom of Morocco that the culling of dogs has been prohibited since August 2024, the IAWPC has verified that the killings not only continue but have escalated since Morocco secured its World Cup bid.
Dogs are being poisoned, beaten, shot, and stabbed, with many left to die slow, agonizing deaths in full view of locals and tourists, including traumatized children. The sheer brutality of these killings has sparked outrage, prompting global figures like Jane Goodall, Chris Packham, and Downton Abbey star Peter Egan to speak out against Morocco’s violent crackdown. Egan has urged his supporters to take part in Saturday’s event and help expose this cruelty.
Les Ward, president of the IAWPC, emphasized that this is an event for everyone, everywhere:
"The Day of the Morocco Dog is a way for people around the world to stand with these animals and make their voices heard. Send a clear message to Morocco and FIFA that the world is watching. Anyone can take part—grab a Sharpie, write a slogan on a t-shirt, and get out there. This is a universal, inclusive event designed to make as much noise as possible.”
To participate, register for free by emailing outreach@iawpc.org with your name and location. Participants are encouraged to share photos and videos of their challenge on social media to amplify the message.
This incredible community has already made an enormous impact, with over 14,000 letters sent to FIFA’s Secretary General, Mattias Grafström, and the FIFA Ethics Committee demanding real action to stop this slaughter. We have far surpassed our initial goal of 10,000 letters and have now doubled our target. If you can’t take part in the walk, please consider sharing our letter campaign with your networks. We must keep the pressure on FIFA’s leadership to take this extreme animal cruelty seriously and hold Morocco accountable for the violent murders of innocent dogs.