The Coalition for Cruelty Free Africa (CFCFA) is horrified by the massacre of over 450 dogs that were murdered within a matter of days in Hosanna, Ethiopia, as highlighted in a recent BBC investigation.
Further evidence has emerged of Children in Hossana, Hadiya, Ethiopia are being paid to beat hang kill dozens of terrified dogs while even younger children watch.
No adult steps in. The savage criminals who ordered and committed these horrific killings of these defenceless dogs causing them immense pain and suffering by torturing beating and hanging them must be made accountable by immediately being arrested and prosecuted for Animal Cruelty.
This has highlighted the serious failures to address Animal protection and public education on care compassion of the dogs cats and animals in their communities. through education tackling rabies by adopting humane public health measures.
CFCFA calls upon the President of Ethiopia is Taye Atske Selassie.
Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, the Government of Ethiopia, the Hadiya Zone Administration, the Hadiya Zone Police Command, the Ethiopian Ministry of Agriculture, the Ethiopian Public Health Institute, and Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, Chairperson of the African Union Commission, to urgently intervene, investigate these barbaric killings and to prevent any further killing of animals, and implement humane, solutions that protect both people and animals.
As the headquarters of the African Union is located in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, we also call upon the African Union to demonstrate continental leadership by promoting Humane rabies control programmes and stronger animal protection standards and enforceable Animal protection laws across Africa.
Every death from Rabies is entirely preventable disease is a tragedy. Animals deserve care and protection from abuse and violence. It important that dogs must NOT become the scapegoats for failures in public health systems, education, veterinary services, and responsible animal management.
Rabies is a preventable disease. It is the responsibility of governments, local authorities, veterinary professionals, and communities to ensure that dogs and other companion animals are vaccinated, cared for responsibly with kindness and compassion sterilised where appropriate, and humanly treated.
Dogs and Cats are loyal caring companion animals and should be treated with kindness.
The indiscriminate and brutal killing of dogs after human lives have already been lost is not only barbaric but spreads more tragedy and is NOT a solution.
It does not address the root causes of rabies and cannot replace comprehensive vaccination programmes, public education, responsible animal guardianship, and accessible veterinary care.
Dogs and cats are sentient beings capable of feeling fear, pain, and distress. They have lived alongside humans for thousands of years as loyal companions. They deserve our protection, compassion, and humane treatment—not fear, abuse, neglect, or indiscriminate killing. These mass killing of dogs is both heartbreaking and unacceptable. Humane rabies control has been successfully achieved in many countries through vaccination, education, responsible animal guardianship, and accessible veterinary care—not through cruelty.
We must replace fear with compassion. The measure of any society is reflected in how animals are treated.
The BBC report has once again highlighted the urgent need for stronger animal protection across Africa, where far too many animals continue to suffer cruelty, neglect, abandonment, trafficking, and slaughter with little or no legal protection or accountability.These Animal Cruelty trades such as Dog Cat Wildlife meat trades Animal sacrifices must be outlawed to protect Animals and the public health
The Coalition for Cruelty-Free Africa calls for:
• An immediate, transparent, and independent investigation into these dog killings.
• Immediate action to prevent any further mass killing of dogs or other animals.
• Strong enforcement of animal protection laws and legal punishment for acts of cruelty.
• National and community-based rabies vaccination programmes for dogs.
• Increased access to veterinary care, sterilisation programmes, and humane dog and cat population management.
• Action to combat the theft, trafficking, and illegal trade of dogs and cats. Greater investment in animal rescue, rehabilitation, and welfare services.
Legal reforms to protect dogs and cats from cruelty, exploitation, abandonment, and slaughter.
CFCFA further calls for compassion, empathy, and respect for animals to become an essential part of education throughout Africa.
Every child should be taught from an early age that dogs, cats, and all animals are living, sentient beings deserving of kindness, care, and protection. Humane education should be incorporated into school curricula, teaching children how to safely interact with animals, prevent dog bites, understand rabies, and develop empathy and respect for all living beings. Building a culture of compassion NOT violence will create safer, healthier, and more responsible communities for future generations.
Protecting animals and protecting people are not competing priorities—they go hand in hand. Humane animal welfare is a public health issue, an educational issue, an environmental issue, and a matter of justice. Communities are strongest when compassion, responsibility, and respect for life guide decision-making.
These savage Dog killings in Hosanna must become a turning point—not another forgotten tragedy.
Africa has the knowledge, the veterinary expertise, and the public health tools to eliminate rabies without resorting to barbarity and cruelty.
The Coalition for Cruelty-Free Africa stands alongside all individuals and organisations working to end cruelty against animals throughout Africa.
We urge the Government of Ethiopia, the African Union, veterinary professionals, educators, community leaders, animal welfare organisations, and citizens to work together to ensure that no child dies from rabies and no animal is subjected to cruelty or unnecessary suffering and that
Compassion, education, vaccination, and responsible animal guardianship—not fear and violence—are the path to a safer future for both Animals and People.
Every preventable human death is one too many.
Every act of preventable animal cruelty is one too many.
Africa can and must do better for its Animals and its People.
Coalition for Cruelty-Free Africa (CFCFA)
www.coalitionforcrueltyfreeafrica.com
