Mar 12, 2026 From Athens to Morocco: Street Dogs and Sports

Municipalities aspire to present their cities at their best when major sporting events draw tourists and public attention. Stray dogs have often been the unfortunate victims of such cleanliness efforts.

In 2004, as Athens prepared for the Olympics, rumors began to circulate about the culling of stray dogs. Although evidence of increased dog culls was limited, the concern led to new legislation that made municipalities responsible for managing stray dogs. This situation also spurred the growth of a volunteer culture among Greek animal welfare organizations.

In 2010, before the Commonwealth Games in New Delhi, India, efforts were made to clear the streets of stray dogs and roaming cows, as well as to trap and remove urban rats and snakes. Similarly, in 2014, before the Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia, community dogs were removed from the streets. Russian billionaire Oleg Deripaska supported last-ditch efforts to save as many dogs as possible, while some U.S. athletes returned home with dogs they had rescued.

Before the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, World Animal Protection received alerts indicating that animals might be removed from Olympic venues. In response, the Rio Olympics Organizing Committee invited World Animal Protection to collaborate on a Technical Cooperation Agreement. This partnership resulted in no animal incidents during the competitions. It led to a shift in mindset within the city administration, recognizing that “animals are part of the city” rather than obstacles to be removed. The success of the Rio partnership was hoped to serve as a model for other municipalities hosting major sporting events.

We are now facing a significant conflict regarding the removal of dogs and other animals from the streets of Morocco in anticipation of the Fédération Internationale de Football Association’s (FIFA) 2030 Soccer World Cup. The International Animal Welfare and Protection Alliance Coalition (IAWPAC), which consists of eighty-two global animal welfare organizations led by Les Ward from the Marchig Foundation, is actively working with both FIFA and Moroccan authorities to prevent a proposed culling of hundreds of thousands of stray dogs. Before the recent African Cup of Nations (AFCON) soccer final held in Morocco—where Senegal defeated Morocco 1-0 in a controversial final—stray dogs and some pet dogs had already been removed from the streets.

Surprisingly, Morocco has been slow to address the concerns raised by IAWPAC. The current king of Morocco, Mohammed VI, is known to be an avid horse and dog lover, a passion he reportedly shares with his youngest daughter, Princess Lalla Khadija. Given the royal family’s interest in animals and their well-being, it would have made for a fitting gift for the Princess’s nineteenth birthday on February 28 if the King had invited international animal protection organizations to help develop animal welfare initiatives in the Kingdom. Such initiatives could effectively address the issues surrounding dog welfare in Morocco before the 2030 FIFA World Cup.

Countries with large populations of street dogs have generally not explored the potential of partnering with animal NGOs to enhance conditions for both people and animals, especially before major sporting events. This represents a missed opportunity. For example, in India, the efforts of animal NGOs may have played a significant role in reducing the number of human rabies cases and the incidence of dog bites.

Morocco is currently facing significant conflict with the animal welfare movement, both domestically and internationally. The government is advancing Law 19.25, which will introduce new registration requirements for pet owners, who make up nearly one-third of the country’s population. This situation in Morocco is not unique. Last year, Turkey sought public support for proposals to address stray dogs, while in Afghanistan, the government requested that Mayhew Afghanistan, a British animal charity, continue its vaccination and sterilization project for street dogs.

Municipal efforts to manage stray dogs often intensify before major sporting events, leading to conflicts between animal welfare concerns and city cleanliness initiatives. Various cities have adopted different approaches and achieved varying outcomes in stray dog management during such events. Countries with large populations of street dogs often overlook opportunities to partner with NGOs to achieve sustainable, humane management. Such a collaboration could enhance public health and animal welfare while preventing harmful, expensive, and typically ineffective short-term measures triggered before the hosting of major events.