World Cup hosts Morocco dogged by culling charges

Animal welfare groups have accused Morocco of culling stray dogs as it prepares to host football's 2030 World Cup, but the kingdom denies the accusations, vowing to protect the canines.

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Advocates have charged that Morocco was indiscriminately ridding its streets of strays ahead of the global sporting event it will jointly host with Portugal and Spain.

Authorities in the North African country, however, insist they had endorsed a non-lethal method known as TNVR - to trap, neuter, vaccinate, and then release the dogs - aimed at reducing public health risks while controlling the stray population.

And a Bill aimed at protecting street animals was adopted earlier this month, still pending Parliament review.

It would set fines of up to US$1,500 (S$1,920) or jail terms of up to three months for harming stray dogs, according to a copy of the Bill seen by AFP.

Yet the culling accusations persist as online videos show dogs being shot or poisoned with strychnine, a toxic alkaloid which is sometimes used as a pesticide.

In the videos from across the country, some of the dogs appear to already have marks on their ears indicating they had been sterilised and vaccinated.