The IAWPC took the fight for Morocco’s Dogs to the English Riviera this week at the Emotional Wellbeing in Animals Conference where key animal experts expressed their support.
Hayley O’Keeffe, a member of the International Animal Welfare Protection Coalition (IAWPC) team, was among delegates at the Emotional Wellbeing in Animals Conference in Torquay, where she used the gathering of vets, behaviourists and welfare experts to shine a spotlight on what campaigners describe as a growing crisis.
The conference, hosted by Pet Remedy at the Imperial Hotel, has brought together some of the world’s leading voices in animal behaviour and veterinary science to explore the often overlooked link between emotional health and overall welfare in animals. Over two days of talks and discussion, experts have stressed that an animal’s mental wellbeing is just as critical as its physical condition.
The IAWPC, a coalition of more than 80 animal welfare organisations including the RSPCA, Dogs Trust and PETA, is campaigning to end what it claims is the widespread and systematic killing of free roaming dogs in Morocco, linked to preparations for the 2030 FIFA World Cup.
Dogs are being rounded up and killed in large numbers, often in brutal ways, in an effort to “clean up” host cities ahead of international scrutiny. Moroccan authorities have previously stated that dogs are collected as part of humane population control measures, including catch, neuter, vaccinate and release programmes, but activists insist many animals are never seen again.
Hayley said the issue resonated deeply with the very themes being discussed inside the venue.
She said: “This conference is all about recognising that animals are sentient beings with emotional lives that matter. You cannot have that conversation in one room while, in another part of the world, dogs are being rounded up and killed in the name of sport.
“The support we’ve had here from some of the most respected voices in animal welfare has been incredibly powerful. It shows this is not a fringe issue, it’s something the entire sector cares about deeply.”
Among those lending their voices were leading veterinary experts Dr Amber Batson, founder of Understand Animals, and Dr Hannah Capon, founder of The Pain Vet.
Dr Capon, who has spent time working in Morocco and shares her home with Elsie, a rescue dog from the country, was said to be particularly moved by the campaign.
Dr Batson did not mince her words, describing the situation as “terrible” and adding that it was deeply troubling that such actions could be associated with a global sporting event.
High profile support also came from Victoria Stilwell, the internationally renowned dog behaviourist best known for her hit television series It’s Me or the Dog, who backed the coalition’s calls.
Event organiser Andrew Hale, a respected emotional wellbeing expert and behaviourist, also expressed his support, underlining the growing consensus among professionals that welfare must extend beyond theory into real world action.
Hayley added: “The science is clear. Animals feel fear, stress and suffering just as we do,” she said. “If we are serious about welfare, we cannot ignore what is happening in Morocco. This campaign is about compassion, accountability and pushing for humane solutions that reflect the values we claim to stand for.”
