The Agriculture Ministry spokesperson denied rumors that Egypt plans to export stray dogs or cats, adding that animals that leave the country are subjected to a set of strict rules. The Agriculture Ministry does not import or export dogs or cats, but applies some measures on animals that accompany travelers who are coming to or leaving Egypt, Agriculture Ministry Spokesperson Hamed Abdel Dayem said in a phone interview on the al-Hadath al-Youm channel on Sunday evening. Claims that Egypt intends to export stray dogs or cats to countries that will eat them are baseless, he added, pointing out that social media users unintentionally tarnish Egypt’s reputation by circulating these rumors. Stray dogs and cats are widespread in Egypt’s streets, mostly surviving on trash piles. The number of people bitten by stray dogs from 2014 to 2017 recorded a total of 1.3 million, 231 of whom subsequently died, according to official estimates.

Source: Egypt Independent November 26, 2018 09:45 UTC