Algeria: Protests against the massacre of stray dogs with the “Galoufa”

The International Organization for Animal Protection (OIPA) has strongly condemned the practice of “Galoufa” in Algeria, a brutal method used for over a century to capture and kill stray dogs and cats

ROME. “Galoufa” involves the capture and killing of stray animals, mistakenly considered carriers of diseases such as rabies. The animals are confined in overcrowded cages, deprived of food and water for days, and ultimately killed by cruel methods such as electrocution after being doused with water. In other cases, they are shot or poisoned, enduring excruciating suffering. Their bodies, often still in agony, are thrown into mass graves or incinerated.

Local activists’ protests and appeals for a more humane approach have been ignored or suppressed by Algerian authorities.

“This practice is not only ethically unacceptable, but also ineffective in the long run,” stated Massimo Pradella, President of OIPA International Onlus. “The violent elimination of strays does not solve the problem, unlike sterilization and vaccines, which currently represent the only concrete and humane solutions for managing the canine and feline populations.”

OIPA has sent a letter of protest to Algerian authorities, including President Abdelmadjid Tebboune, Prime Minister Nadir Larbaoui, and the President of the Economic, Social, and Environmental Council, Rabéa Kharfi. The letter demands the immediate cessation of these barbaric practices and the adoption of more humane and animal-friendly policies.

The organization urges the public to join the protest, which has already gathered over 1,000 signatures, by sending an email to Algerian institutions through an online form available on OIPA’s website. The goal is to pressure Algerian authorities to put an end to this cruelty.

OIPA emphasizes that sterilization and vaccination are the only effective and compassionate solutions for managing populations of stray animals. These practices not only prevent unwanted births but also help control the spread of diseases. The organization urges Algerian authorities to adopt a humane and sustainable approach to stray animal management, abandoning the cruel and ineffective practice of “Galoufa”.