The Egyptian Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation has launched a unified national strategy for managing the population of animals living on the country's streets. This initiative involves implementing scientific and veterinary standards in all state institutions for the safe handling of stray animals.
By order of President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, a special commission was established, including representatives from relevant ministries and state bodies. The task of this commission is to conduct a complete reorganization of veterinary policy and unify efforts to manage the animal world.
The core of the new strategy is the 'Trap-Neuter-Vaccinate-Return' (TNR) approach. According to this plan, stray dogs will be vaccinated against rabies, sterilized or neutered, and then returned to their natural habitats, which aligns with internationally recognized protocols for controlling stray populations.
The Ministry issued an order to immediately cease the use of indiscriminate control methods. The strategy strictly prohibits mass culling, the use of poisons, and unauthorized relocation of animals. Legal measures will be applied for violations.
The Ministry emphasized that this plan is consistent with Egypt's obligations under the Convention on Biological Diversity and aligns with the guidelines set by the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH).
All citizens, institutions, civil society organizations, and local authorities are mandated to strictly follow the new protocol. Making unilateral decisions outside the approved structure is prohibited. The Ministry warned that strict legal action will be taken against unauthorized practices or deliberate attempts to mislead the public, coordinated with regulatory and security services.
The initiative also includes the modernization of veterinary clinics, slaughterhouses, and diagnostic laboratories. Furthermore, legislative updates, digital transformation, and the creation of intelligent databases for crisis management are planned. The goal of the plan is to achieve a balance between protecting public health and preserving ecological integrity through continuous vaccination campaigns, sterilization programs, and science-based management.
Hind El-Sheikh, Director of the General Administration for Licensing and Dangerous Animal Management at the Egyptian Ministry of Agriculture, refuted claims that there are '50 million dogs' in Egypt and warned against the spread of misinformation.
During a phone interview on Friday on the program 'al-Hekaya' on MBC Masr, hosted by Amr Adib, Sheikh noted that domestic dogs help protect citizens from other threats, such as reptiles and other pests. She added that dogs have been present in Egypt since the pharaohs, and solving this problem requires time and comprehensive plans, not quick fixes.
According to Sheikh, dogs perform a protective function because crime rates, including kidnappings, are less likely in areas with domestic dogs. She explained that dogs are nocturnal animals and sleep about 18 hours if well-fed, especially in winter, spending most of the day asleep before taking on a protective role at night.
El-Sheikh confirmed that the state is implementing a unified national plan to manage the stray animal issue, including free-roaming dogs, in coordination with all relevant authorities. She emphasized that the Ministry of Agriculture is making long-term, scientific decisions to ensure the health and environmental safety of citizens.
In Sheikh's opinion, the stray dog problem is part of a comprehensive strategy being implemented by the veterinary sector. She explained that the goal is to unify the efforts of relevant departments and prevent contradictory decisions when dealing with this issue. The Ministry approaches the problem with a multifaceted and comprehensive approach, assuring that citizen protection is a priority and the issue is being addressed with sustainable, not temporary, measures.
Sheikh reported that the ministry has begun controlling the dog population through vaccination, checking, sterilization, and subsequent release. She stressed that sterilized dogs become gentler and capable of coexisting with society. She assured that they are tackling this issue decisively, protecting the community from risks and relying on research to develop comprehensive plans, noting that this stray animal crisis requires time for a thorough resolution.
