Dogs and the law in Morocco: what every owner should know

Owning a dog also means legal responsibility. In Morocco, several rules govern dog ownership: a specific law on dangerous dogs, the obligation to vaccinate against rabies, and the general principles of owner liability. This article sets out the main lines in plain language, to help you stay within the rules and avoid nasty surprises.

This article is general information and not legal advice. The texts may change: for a specific situation, refer to the official texts, your commune, the veterinary services or a legal professional.

Law 56-12 on dangerous dogs

The reference text is Law No. 56-12 on the prevention of, and protection of people against, the dangers of dogs, adopted in 2013. It aims to protect the public against dogs that, by their breed or build, present a danger to people.

What the law forbids

For dogs classed as dangerous, the law sets a broad ban: it is forbidden to keep, breed, sell, buy or import them.

Which dogs are covered?

The list of dogs considered dangerous was set by an implementing text published in 2018. According to the information published at that time, it targets in particular:

• the Pit Bull (American Pit Bull Terrier);
• the American Staffordshire Terrier;
• the Staffordshire Bull Terrier;
• the Mastiff;
• the Boerboel;
• the Tosa Inu;
• the Fila Brasileiro.

The list may include dogs resulting from crosses with these breeds, as well as dogs that resemble them in build. In other words, a dog with no papers that looks like a pit bull may be considered covered.

If you are thinking of acquiring a mastiff-type dog or a bull-type terrier, check the official list in force before any purchase. A seller who assures you “there’s no problem” commits only themselves: you are the one who will be in breach.

The penalties

The law provides for fines and prison sentences for keeping, selling or importing a banned dog, with heavier penalties where the dog has injured someone. The animal may be seized by the authorities. The exact amounts and terms are in the text of the law; they depend on the offence and its consequences.

What this means for the buyer

• Don’t buy a dog of a banned breed, even at an attractive price, even “for guarding”.
• Beware of listings that present a bull-type dog under another breed name.
• Don’t bring in a covered dog from abroad: it will be stopped at the border.

On canin.ma, listings are moderated and dogs banned by law have no place here. If you see one, report it.

Obligations for all dogs

Beyond banned breeds, every owner has obligations, which come from the law, health rules and local by-laws. Practical details vary from one commune to another, but the following principles are constant.

Keep control of your dog

You must keep your dog under control in all circumstances and prevent it from roaming. In public places, in practice that means keeping it on a lead. A dog that roams free can be captured by commune services.

For powerful or reactive dogs, a muzzle in busy places is a common-sense precaution, and may be required locally. Check with your commune.

Rabies vaccination

Rabies vaccination is mandatory for dogs from the age of three months, with a yearly booster. You must be able to prove it with the health record or the vaccination certificate. ONSSA runs free vaccination campaigns; our article on rabies in Morocco explains everything.

Veterinary care and identification

Have your dog seen by a vet and keep its health record up to date and accessible: it is the document you will be asked for in a check, after a bite or for travel. Microchip identification, fitted by a vet, is the surest way to prove the dog is yours and to find it if it gets lost; it is essential for travelling abroad.

If your dog bites or causes damage

Moroccan law makes the owner, or the person who has charge of the animal, responsible for the damage it causes, whether a bite, a fall it provokes or material damage. The fact that the dog escaped doesn’t release you from that responsibility.

In the case of a bite:

1. help the person and urge them to wash the wound and consult immediately;
2. give your contact details and show the vaccination record;
3. take the dog to a vet: it must be placed under health observation for about a fortnight, with several check visits;
4. don’t part with the dog or make it disappear during this period.

Depending on the seriousness, proceedings may be brought, and the victim may claim compensation. Check whether your home insurance or a civil-liability policy covers damage caused by your dog.

Living in a shared building or renting

Nothing generally forbids having a dog in a flat, but:

• a lease may contain a clause on pets: read it before adopting;
• building rules may govern animals in the shared areas;
• nuisance, repeated barking, smells, droppings in shared areas, can justify neighbours’ complaints and action by the building manager.

Keeping your dog on a lead in the building, picking up its droppings and working on being alone to prevent barking settles most conflicts before they begin.

Cruelty and abandonment

The Moroccan Penal Code provides penalties for ill-treatment of domestic animals. Beyond the text, abandoning a dog in the street almost always condemns it: hunger, accidents, disease, and it adds to the stray dog population.

If you can no longer keep your dog, look for a new home for it: family, friends, animal welfare associations, or a serious adoption listing. Be honest about its character and health, and hand its record to the new owner.

Stray dogs

Managing stray dogs is the job of communes. More and more towns are turning to catching, neutering, vaccinating and releasing dogs, a method recognised as the most effective for durably reducing populations and rabies.

As an owner, your contribution is simple: vaccinate your dog, don’t let it roam, have it neutered if you don’t want a litter, and never abandon it.

Travelling with and importing a dog

Bringing a dog into or out of the country requires identification, a valid rabies vaccination and a health certificate, to which, for many destinations, are added a rabies antibody test and a waiting period. Dogs banned by Law 56-12 can’t be imported. The steps are detailed in travelling with your dog.

The responsible owner’s checklist

• My dog doesn’t belong to a banned category.
• It is vaccinated against rabies and its yearly booster is up to date.
• I keep its health record and certificates.
• It is identified, ideally with a microchip.
• I keep it on a lead in public places and it doesn’t roam.
• I pick up its droppings.
• I know what to do in case of a bite.
• I have checked my lease, my building rules and my insurance.

Key takeaways

Three points sum up the essentials: some breeds are banned by Law 56-12, rabies vaccination is mandatory every year, and you are responsible for what your dog does. Before buying, choose a permitted breed with the help of our guide to popular breeds in Morocco, and to bring vaccinations up to date, see a vet.