Dear friends and tourists of Morocco,

It seems that the actions illustrated in the photos we received today from Essaouria where dogs were rounded up yesterday prove that many municipalities across the country are defying the kings order to stop killing stray dogs and still continue to do so– one reason is because these souls are considered a nuissance to tourists because of their presence and the tourists complain barking disrupts their sleep therefore disrupts the entire economy.

Another thing that happens are mass culls before a big event happen citing "It’s more ‘clean’ to host a competition without stray dogs”. See video here: https://youtu.be/NOseofsdYmE

At first, authorities went to great length to cover-up their actions, usually working at night; now, they do not even bother to do that anymore and operate in the light of day or shoot at night and leave the dog in the street (as you can see in this video below). He wagged his tail until the end. 

https://www.facebook.com/nunnanunnis/videos/1071943143148696/

The  shooters sometimes trade the safety of passers-by and create a very unpleasant encounter in the middle of major cities; these operations are carried out before the peak of the tourist season which is coming soon. Many people want to speak up for the dogs when they are being shot however they are scared to get shot due to the shooters poor aim or worried if the defend the dogs they will be arrested.

The dog in this video was a dog named Wilka who protected the neighborhood she lived in. As you can see in this video an untrained shooter shot this dog named Wilka. She suffered for a very long time before finally dying in front of the neighborhood who loved her. A hashtag was created in her honor called #Jesuiswilka in protest of this violent action, yet the killings still continue.The photo in the petition is what was left of her. They just left her on the street so the next morning as the children left for school they had to walk by their beloved neighborhood dog. We had a teacher give us drawings her students made in class. The children drew pictures about how they felt about dogs in Morocco and drew violent photos of dead dogs, men with guns and blood and and many tears and asked to stop killing dogs. The photos are on our Facebook.

According to recent statistics, in 2019 over 15,000 dogs alone were killed in Casablanca, the economic capital of Morocco. Strays were dispatched to be killed in the entire country last year in order to maintain the streets nice and clean and ensure tourists would not be bothered in any shape or form. Also, some are killed due to hatred and as some citizens see them as dirty, impure and evil. Some are killed due to fear of rabies irregardless of whether they have rabies or not. Hundreds of thousands of animals in Morocco have been inhumanely killed. Over 13 million tourists visited the country in 2019 and, with the upcoming opening of the airport in Marrakesh that number is expected to rise.

These operations have become something all too common and are held on a regular basis, but with very little results. Because these schemes are highly ineffective, the population has actually risen in many cities. Authorities in the municipalities are refusing to take any other approach on this matter and continue to defy the kings orders to spay, neuter, trap and release. One caravan of veterinary students and doctors traversed 12 douars, or villages, in the municipality of Khnichet in the Sidi Kacem province, 115 kilometers northwest of Fez in the Rabat-Salé-Kénitra region. In just two days, the team managed to vaccinate 600 dogs against rabies. It was an enormous number but insufficient given the number of the existing population.

As much as I would like to visit the Morocco, take a wild sahara desert trip, go shopping in the medina in Marrakech, visit the Jardin Majorelle, or visit  I simply cannot overlook this situation. I write this petition on behalf of a lot of animal lovers in outside of Morocco and inside of Morocco. I write this petition on behalf of all poor souls suffering everyday on the streets either by poisoning, shooting or abusing. We know that the Moroccan King is a kind person and who can stop this by only one word to be given to the authorities " Please stop killing strays" and to punish anyone who abuse them. Animal Lovers are suffering everyday from what they see but we can not save all animals of Morocco. There is a dire need for a  national stratedgy to be developed thru coordinated partnerships with major animal welfare organizations. Caring people of the world will not stop speaking out against the betrayal and violence towards these helpless sentient beings who can feel the same things that we can feel. One stray unswayed dog and her descendants can create 67,000 dogs in 6 years time so this means millions of dogs have been slaughtered. It’s a never ending cycle of violence. The government needs to increase financial and political support to provide for sufficient immunity, vaccinating and neutering services for dogs nationwide.

Lastly, it has been proven that if you remove dogs in countries with a lot of trash outside you will replace them with rats which will drive tourists away more than dogs. In small towns with loose garbage in Morocco where they have managed to kill enough dogs the rats have taken over. I assure you rats are not appeasing to me as a tourist.  

Please support our campaign and urge the people in power to do more on this very important matter. I hope to find in the news very soon that the country will stop killing street animals and that there will be strict punishment for those that abuse them. By doing that they will make millions of animals lovers happy and appreciate what they do and we will support tourism to Morocco.

Anyone who knows about Morocco knows how important tourism is for the country. The Moroccan people want change but they are helpless to help and are unable to protest about this in their own country without alot of red tape or fear of arrest. Because those in power refuse to act to stop this injustice, Moroccan civil society has called for a global citizens’ response of solidarity with the Moroccan struggle for animal rights and we take up this calling by boycotting all travel to Morocco until change happens.

Animals in Morocco suffer greatly. Not only are many killed in road accidents but many more are abused in the most horrible ways. Moroccan law has regulations relating to animals in terms of wildlife and the environment but does not address the issue of animal abuse. The law must be amended whereby those guilty of animal abuse are prosecuted. God will never forgive those who kill or abuse them with no mercy. We have to study other solutions done by pioneers, there are other solutions rather than killing. I know that Islamic Religion is religion of mercy, in addition that they have a president with golden heart who will understand our point of view.

We, the undersigned, pledge not to sponsor tourism in Morocco in any shape or form until our demands are taken into consideration.

Thank you!