Rabies is devastating but preventable: ICAM response to the recent death of a UK tourist to Morocco (June 2025)

On June 18, news broke that Yvonne Ford had died from rabies, contracted through a scratch from a rabies infected puppy. Tragically, rabies is a preventable disease, if you know the risks and act quickly. Its also a virus that can be eliminated through mass vaccination of the dog population to create herd immunity. But Morocco has been culling free-roaming dogs for years instead of vaccinating them. We urge Morocco to change its strategy: it is mass vaccination – not mass culling – that would prevent such a tragedy happening again to visitors and the citizens of Morocco.Read More

ICAM position on WSAVA guidelines for the control of reproduction in dogs and cats

The WSAVA Reproduction Control Committee’s guidelines on the control of reproduction in dogs and cats has sections where veterinary surgeons can find useful information. However, we see shortcomings in its wider application, in particular for communities where unowned, community and roaming owned animals predominate and surgical sterilisation including removal of gonads has additional benefits.Read More

Why not cull?

This article collates the evidence against the use of culling for dog and cat population control; different articles and arguments will be relevant for different locations and contexts. We hope readers will identify the evidence that is most relevant for their situation and use it to develop their case for the alternative; humane management of dog and cat populations with the aim of a harmonious co-existence between people and dogs/cats. Read More

Open letter to President Erdoğan – Veto proposed changes and keep the current Animal Protection Law

ICAM open letter to President Erdoğan, calling on him to veto the proposed changes and keep the current Animal Protection Law No. 5199. Implementation of the current law has been fragmented and incomplete, and hence ineffectual – but its foundational principals are sound. Reverting to back to permanent sheltering or culling will not solve the problem of free roaming animals. Read More