Information: The number of stray dogs in the streets of Egypt is estimated at about 30 million and the number of people who raise pets in Egypt is 10 million, to top the list of pet breeders in the Arab countries, despite the poor economic conditions in the country, and the authorities impose fees on the issuance of dog licenses not less than one thousand pounds, and not more than 50 thousand pounds, and impose a fine on those who raise dogs inside the house without a license, up to half million pounds, according to the executive regulations Law of the Acquisition and Acquisition License and Animal Law. The executive regulation of the law regulating the possession of dangerous animals and dogs in Egypt was issued by the Prime Minister's Decree No. 1731 of 2025, which requires the licensing of dogs and dangerous animals, sets licensing fees (such as 1000 pounds per average dog per year), imposes strict conditions for possession (vaccinations, medical examination, safe accommodation), sets penalties for violators and details of dealing with stray animals, with a mechanism for registering animals with an identification card and serial number.
Causes and challenges of the problem: Old methods that were based on murder have changed (e.g.
Targets: sustainably control stray dog and cat populations, eliminate common diseases (such as rabies) to protect public health, achieve environmental balance and ensure public safety while preserving animal welfare. The scientific and veterinary institutions in the world follow integrated strategies to deal with the increasing numbers of dogs and cats, aimed at balancing public safety and animal welfare.
1. Scientific and practical strategies applied:
Trap: Stray animals are gently caught.
-Spay/Neuter: is the basic solution to break the cycle of rapid reproduction of stray dogs and cats, where they are hunted, sterilized, immunized, then put back in place (TNR) or adopted.
Vaccination: Vaccinating animals against serious diseases such as rabies, which is an essential part of programs to control the numbers of stray animals.
-Release: returning sterile and fortified animals to their original environment, to prevent the occurrence of a "biological vacuum" that may be occupied by other animals that are not immune or aggressive where less aggressive and contribute to the control of numbers without harming the environment.
- Temporary accommodation centers: the establishment of centers to collect stray animals, isolate the sick, conduct vaccinations and sterilization, and provide the necessary care before returning or finding adopters.
Awareness campaigns: Educating the public about the responsibilities of owning pets, the importance of sterilization, and how to safely and compassionately deal with stray animals to prevent infertility and increase adoption.
Census monitoring: using scientific data to monitor dog movements and behaviours to effectively identify problems and adapt programs, in collaboration with the community to identify root causes, according to guidelines from international organizations, World Animal Protection.
Euthansia: As a last resort only for severely ill or aggressive animals that are difficult to control, according to international standards, to avoid suffering and protect public health, with emphasis on not resorting to indiscriminate killing and poisoning.
Use of technology: Implement electronic monitoring systems to track dog movements and evaluate the effectiveness and adaptation of interventions.
2. Environmental management and food sources are: Organizing food sources: It is recommended to allocate specific places for food away from residential blocks to reduce clashes with humans. With the supervision, regulation and application of laws and regulations related to the possession of pets and the management of stray animal numbers.
Waste management: Control of organic waste in the streets, as the abundance of food is the main driver of increased fertility and reproduction in stray animals.
3. Shelter and adoption programs include: Shelters and Attachments: Create equipped shelters that provide medical and food care for animals unable to live on the streets while encouraging adoption by launching community campaigns aimed at adopting pets rather than buying them from breeders, thus reducing pressure on the streets.
4. Legislation and community awareness of responsible ownership should impose laws that require pet owners to register and immunize them, and criminalize abandoning them in the streets.
5. Digital monitoring and evaluation The competent authorities use digital monitoring systems to estimate animal numbers and geographical distribution, which helps guide sterilization and immunization campaigns more efficiently and accurately.
To cope with the increasing numbers of dogs and cats, governments and organizations are adopting a scientific and practical approach focused on sterilization and immunization (TNR) to reduce reproduction and prevent disease, establishing temporary shelters, with awareness campaigns for citizens, and cooperating with civil society organizations, while applying humanitarian methods that do not rely on indiscriminate killing to ensure public health and environmental balance.
.بقلم: ا.د/ عاطف محمد كامل أحمد-سفير النوايا الحسنة- مؤسس كلية الطب البيطرى جامعة عين شمس استاذ ووكيل الكلية لشئون خدمة المجتمع وتنمية البيئة والمشرف على تأسيس ورئيس قسم الحياة البرية وحدائق الحيوان – عضو اللجنة العلمية والإدارية لإتفاقية سايتس- والخبير الدولى في الحياة البرية والمحميات الطبيعية والتنوع البيولوجى باليونسكو وبرنامج الأمم المتحدة للتنمية والإتحاد الدولى لحفظ الطبيعة IUCN وخبير البيئة والتغيرات المناخية بوزارة البيئة- المستشار العلمى لحديقة الحيوان بالجيزة ولرئيس الهيئة العامة للخدمات البيطرية لحدائق الحيوان -عضو الجمعية العالمية لحماية الحيوانات -(WSPA)الأمين العام المساعد للحياة البرية بالإتحاد العربى لحماية الحياة البرية والبحرية- جامعة الدول العربية ورئيس لجنة البيئة بالرابطة المغربية المصرية للصداقة بين شعوب العالم.
