The campaign marks a shift from short-term crisis management toward long-term, sustainable solutions to the stray dog issue, officials said, with an emphasis on public health protection and environmental safety.
The operation is being implemented under directives from Agriculture Minister Alaa Farouk, who said the initiative reflects a transition toward scientifically grounded approaches aligned with international animal welfare standards.
Ain Shams was selected as the starting point due to the high volume of complaints from the area, with authorities aiming to implement early intervention to curb the phenomenon and reduce associated health risks.
Farouk said the programme represents a move from “managing crises” to addressing the root causes of the problem through globally recognised methodologies, adding that it also serves as a model for cooperation between state institutions and civil society.
The campaign is being carried out under the supervision of the General Organisation for Veterinary Services, in coordination with the Federation of Animal Welfare Associations, registered under No. 1242 for 2025.
Veterinary authorities said field teams, coordinated through the organisation’s General Administration for Animal Welfare and Licensing, achieved tangible results on the first day.
Dogs transferred to shelters will undergo surgical sterilization before being released back into their original environments to maintain ecological balance and prevent the entry of unvaccinated animals.
The statement stressed that the Ain Shams phase represents only the starting point of a nationwide programme that will be rolled out across all governorates according to a set timetable, with the goal of making Egypt free of rabies by 2030.
Alongside field operations, the General Administration for Veterinary Guidance launched an intensive public awareness campaign targeting residents, focusing on safe interaction with free-roaming dogs and prevention of zoonotic diseases, in an effort to promote coexistence and community safety.
Egypt has launched a nationwide programme to manage an estimated 10–11 million stray dogs through a catch–neuter–vaccinate–release approach, supported by the construction of 12 shelters across several governorates and the planned recruitment of around 2,500 veterinarians.
The programme is being implemented in coordination with governors nationwide, in accordance with Law No. 29 of 2023 regulating animal ownership.
Official estimates by the Ministry of Agriculture and the Food and Agriculture Organization put the stray dog population at 10–11 million, with authorities rejecting higher circulating figures.
Twelve plots of land have been allocated on the outskirts of cities to establish shelters away from densely populated areas.
The first phase includes facilities in Cairo, Giza, Beheira, and Gharbiya, selected due to population density and public complaints, while other governorates are expected to develop similar shelters using local budgets.
Under the programme, dogs will be captured, vaccinated, treated, and sterilised before being returned to their original areas to maintain ecological balance or housed in shelters, with aggressive or suspected rabid cases isolated.
Officials say the approach aligns with the World Health Organization’s global strategy to eliminate rabies by 2030, stressing that killing or poisoning dogs is prohibited, while encouraging adoption.
Funding will come from state budget allocations alongside contributions from civil society and international partners, with shelters managed according to scientific standards and staffed by specialised veterinary teams in coordination with animal welfare organizations.
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