Cairo Launches Landmark Shelter, Vaccination Project for Stray Animals

CAIRO – 13 January 2026: In a significant move toward humane urban management, Cairo Governor Dr. Ibrahim Saber launched the city’s first integrated project for sheltering and vaccinating stray animals.

The initiative marks a strategic shift from traditional animal control to a scientifically grounded approach that balances public safety with strict animal welfare standards.

A Purpose-Built Sanctuary

The project centers on a newly allocated 2,800-square-meter plot of land east of the Autostrad road in the Tebbin district. This facility—commonly referred to as a "shelter"—will serve as a hub for:

 * Medical Rehabilitation: Stray dogs will be brought to the center for thorough health examinations and treatment by specialized veterinary teams.

 * Mass Vaccination & Sterilization: Following the "Catch-Neuter-Vaccinate-Release" (CNVR) model, animals will be immunized against rabies and sterilized to humanely control the population.

 * Safe Reintegration: Once healthy and non-aggressive, animals will be returned to their original environments to maintain ecological balance, ensuring that vaccinated dogs hold territory and prevent the entry of un-immunized strays.

National Vision: 'Rabies-Free Egypt 2030'

This Cairo-based project is a cornerstone of the broader national strategy, "Egypt Free of Rabies 2030." The Ministry of Agriculture and Land Reclamation recently kicked off the first field phase of this strategy in Cairo’s Ain Shams district, where teams successfully vaccinated nearly 300 dogs in a single day.

The government plans to build 12 similar shelters on the outskirts of major cities across 12 governorates, including Giza, Beheira, and Gharbiya. To support this massive operation, authorities are set to recruit approximately 2,500 additional veterinarians.

Adoption

A unique feature of the new Tebbin shelter is its focus on adoption services. Once animals are certified as disease-free and vaccinated, they will be made available for adoption to the public.

Governor Saber emphasized that the project is being implemented in close coordination with the General Organization for Veterinary Services and various civil society animal welfare associations. "Our goal is to protect citizens from the risks of unmanaged stray populations while proving that practical solutions and kindness can go hand-in-hand," the Governor stated.

Alongside the physical shelters, the General Administration for Veterinary Guidance has launched an intensive awareness campaign to educate residents on "responsible coexistence" and safe interaction with local animal populations.