Egypt has established a national committee, drawing representatives from both its security and civil ministries, to devise a comprehensive strategy aimed at controlling the country’s growing population of stray and dangerous animals, particularly dogs, and eradicating rabies by 2030.
The move comes under a decree issued by Agriculture and Land Reclamation Minister Alaa Farouk, and was published Monday in the official gazette. It activates provisions of Law No. 29 of 2023 on dangerous animals and dogs, and its executive regulations.
The committee will be chaired by the head of the General Authority for Veterinary Services and includes officials from seven ministries among them the Ministry of Defense and the Ministry of Interior.
Also included are representatives from the ministries of health, environment, housing, local development, and urban communities.
According to the decree, the committee’s responsibilities include formulating a national action plan to reduce the number of stray and abandoned animals, with regular updates based on guidance from the World Organization for Animal Health. The committee will also conduct environmental impact assessments related to the rising number of stray dogs and their effect on other species in Egypt’s ecosystems.
The strategy aims to support a nationwide dog census, reduce canine populations in urban areas, and coordinate waste management efforts to address environmental factors contributing to animal overpopulation.
The committee is also authorized to work with civil society organizations and private-sector firms engaged in animal management, adopting methods recommended by international health bodies. These include sterilization programs and the humane euthanasia and burial of particularly aggressive animals, in compliance with environmental and public health regulations.
Officials will also allocate land in each governorate for building animal shelters, prioritizing preventive health measures and adjusting facilities to reflect local population data. The committee will establish rules for licensed organizations operating in the field, ensuring their compliance with the new law and its regulations.
It is mandated to convene monthly and submit recommendations to the minister of agriculture for final approval.
A public health imperative
The Egyptian government has set a goal of eliminating rabies by 2030. Officials say the state currently spends 1.2 billion Egyptian pounds annually to procure vaccines for citizens bitten by animals, largely dogs.
Egypt first introduced a national rabies elimination strategy in 2021, combining animal vaccinations, public awareness campaigns, and the distribution of emergency post-exposure treatment. However, enforcement and coordination across agencies have been inconsistent, prompting renewed calls for a centralized response.
In August, Ebrahim Nazeer, a member of Parliament representing North Assiut, submitted an interpellation to the prime minister and several cabinet ministers, warning that unchecked stray dog populations pose a serious risk to public safety.
He cited health statistics indicating that female stray dogs can give birth up to three times a year, producing litters of five to six puppies at a time. Nazeer also noted that dogs can transmit nearly 200 diseases to humans, including rabies—a fatal viral disease that attacks the nervous system if not treated promptly.
He added that the threat is exacerbated by a lack of public awareness and a widespread disregard for preventive measures, particularly in communities where people have limited knowledge of the disease or how to avoid exposure.
While the state seeks to control the stray animal population, Egyptian law mandates protections for animals. Article 45 of the constitution calls for the preservation and humane treatment of animals, and Articles 355 and 357 of the penal code criminalize cruelty and unjustified killing.
Under Article 357, deliberately killing or poisoning a domesticated animal without cause is punishable by up to six months in prison or a fine of no more than 200 Egyptian pounds.
The challenge for authorities will be enforcing these protections while addressing a public health crisis that shows no sign of easing.
