Outrage as Egypt announces plans to send 4,100 stray dogs and cats abroad where they could be slaughtered and EATEN
- Egyptian government authorised round-up and export of thousands of strays
- Activists fear they could be sent to countries that would use the animals as food
- Liverpool’s Egyptian star Mo Salah was among those who spoke out against plan
Egypt has announced plans to send 4,100 stray dogs and cats abroad sparking fears the animals will be sent to countries where they could be slaughtered and eaten.
Activists were left outraged over reports the Egyptian government had authorised the rounding-up and export of thousands of strays to other nations.
Liverpool’s Egyptian star Mo Salah was among those who spoke out against the plans.
Egypt has announced plans to send 4,100 stray dogs and cats abroad amid fears the animals will be sent to countries where they could be slaughtered and eaten (file picture)
‘Cats and dogs will not be exported anywhere. This won’t happen and can’t happen,’ he tweeted, alongside pictures of his pet cats.
Stray cats and dogs are widespread in Egypt. Reports started to emerge last week that the agriculture ministry had given the green light for more than 4,000 to be sent abroad.
Newspaper reports in the country suggested health certificates were being issued for the export of some 2,400 cats and 1,600 dogs.
A spokesman for the ministry then insisted the strays had been vaccinated against disease and would be exported in line with legal procedures.
Liverpool’s Egyptian star Mo Salah was among those who spoke out against the plans. ‘Cats and dogs will not be exported anywhere. This won’t happen and can’t happen,’ he tweeted, alongside pictures of his pet cats (above)
It is not yet clear which countries the animals would be sent to and officials have not revealed what would happen to them on arrival.
But there was anger among activists who fear they could end up in nations where they could be used as food. One MP is pushing for a bill to criminalise such exports.
Officials in Egypt denied that the government itself would be sending the animals abroad. Instead, authorities were granting licences so others could export them, they said.
Government spokesman Hamed Abdel Dayem told al-Hadath al-Youm slammed as ‘baseless’ reports that the strays would be sent to countries where they could be eaten.