In Egypt, stray dogs are subjected to widespread violence—beaten, stoned, poisoned, and hanged in the streets.

Puppies have been scalded with boiling water. Children use animals as playthings, often maiming them. Authorities contribute by poisoning or shooting dogs at night, even those marked by trap-neuter-release (TNR) programs, reports Dogs Today.

One dog, suffering from mange, was hacked to pieces by locals afraid of its appearance. Such acts are rarely prosecuted unless caught on camera. The country lacks a national animal welfare law, leaving abuse largely unchecked, Egypt Watch reports.

Dogs in Egypt are beaten, poisoned, and hanged in public spaces.

Sexual Violence and State Neglect

Animal welfare groups report cases of dogs and cattle sexually assaulted, some with internal injuries so severe they require intensive care. These acts reflect a deeper social collapse, according to advocates like Mira Jamal, who told Egypt Watch that violence against animals signals broader risks to human safety.

Despite growing public outrage, current laws offer only minor penalties for even the most egregious cases. Efforts to reform the penal code have stalled.

Animal abuse videos circulate online without legal consequences in Egypt.

Working Animals Abused for Tourism

At the Giza pyramids, exhausted horses and camels are routinely whipped, denied food and water, and abandoned when they collapse. Footage from activists shows emaciated animals digging through garbage to survive, and even mummified remains dumped behind tourist attractions, the Daily Mail reports.

Camel markets are no better. Traders thrash camels with bamboo poles, tie up legs to prevent escape, and leave wounds untreated. According to the The New York Times, visitors often witness the cruelty firsthand, with some tourists later launching petitions or adopting rescued animals.

Tourists have documented severe abuse at Egypt’s attractions.

Shelters Struggle to Keep Up

Across Cairo, dozens of overcrowded shelters care for thousands of dogs—many paralyzed, injured, or abandoned. Some have therapy pools and wheelchairs for disabled dogs. Others are barely holding on, struggling to provide daily meals as food costs soar, Dogs Today reports.

Despite the odds, staff and volunteers—many young Egyptians—persist. Donations from abroad help, but there’s no state support. Exporting dogs to homes in Europe or North America offers some hope, but costs are steep and spaces are limited.

A new law banned most dog breeds instead of abusers.

Ban Targets Breeds, Not Abusers

In 2023, the government enacted a sweeping ban on all but 10 dog breeds, labeling many popular pets—including German shepherds and huskies—as dangerous. Owners were given a month to surrender their dogs, with no clear plan for what would happen to the animals, Fortune reports. Critics called the move a distraction from real reform.

“It’s like banning cars because of a car crash,” said one pet owner.

Advocacy groups argue the law punishes responsible guardians while ignoring the root causes of abuse.

The Egyptian government offers no support to animal shelters.

Defiance and Hope in the Face of Cruelty

Acts of resistance shine through. One Dutch woman, outraged after witnessing a donkey beaten near Cairo, intervened physically and was arrested. As the Daily Mail reports, her actions sparked global attention and renewed calls for reform.

Others quietly run clinics, raise funds, and teach children compassion. At one shelter, two paralyzed dogs wag their tails at visitors, a testament to resilience. But for thousands of animals still suffering in Egypt’s streets, laws—not just love—are desperately needed.

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