Egypt bans poisoning of street dogs under new national strategy

Egypt has initiated a comprehensive national strategy to manage its stray animal population, prioritizing humane methods and international standards. The Ministry of Agriculture and Land Reclamation announced the unified plan, which moves away from previous culling and poisoning practices.

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Street dogs will be vaccinated against rabies, spayed or neutered, and returned to their habitats, mirroring internationally recognized protocols for managing stray populations.

The core of the strategy is the adoption of the Trap-Neuter-Vaccinate-Return (TNR) framework. Under this protocol, stray dogs will be captured, vaccinated against rabies, spayed or neutered, and then returned to their original habitats. This approach aligns with globally recognized methods for controlling stray animal populations.

Crucially, the new plan explicitly bans indiscriminate control methods. Mass culling, the use of poison, and unauthorized relocations are strictly prohibited. The ministry has warned that legal action will be pursued against any violators, emphasizing strict oversight and measures against misinformation. This directive follows directives from President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, who called for a committee to unify management efforts and overhaul veterinary policies.

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The ministry ordered an immediate halt to indiscriminate control methods. The plan strictly prohibits mass culling, the use of poison, and unauthorized animal relocations. Legal action will be taken against violators.

The strategy also aims to modernize Egypt's veterinary infrastructure, including upgrading facilities and implementing digital management platforms. By focusing on sustained vaccination drives and science-backed management, the plan seeks to maintain ecological balance and safeguard public health, adhering to commitments under international conventions like the Convention on Biological Diversity and guidelines from the World Organisation for Animal Health.

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The plan aims to strike a balance between safeguarding public health and preserving ecological integrity through sustained vaccination drives, neutering programs, and science-backed management.