AVSF Urgent Statement about TNVR
The vision of the Algerian Veterinary Space Foundation (AVSF) for combating rabies is fully aligned with the global strategy adopted by leading international health and veterinary organizations, including the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH), the Global Alliance for Rabies Control (GARC), the Quadripartite (WOAH–WHO–FAO–UNEP) the World Veterinary Association (WVA), and the World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA) all of which AVSF is honored to be an active member of.
Following the important meeting held on 9 November 2025 at the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development with civil society representatives—which resulted in the historic decision to permanently halt the killing of stray animals—and reaffirming the scientific fact that stray dogs are not the source of the virus but merely potential carriers, and that decades of indiscriminate culling have failed and instead contributed to the persistence of the disease, the AVSF leadership held extensive internal deliberations and resolved the following:
First: Official Change of Terminology
Effective 19 November 2025, the Algerian Veterinary Space Foundation officially abolishes the arabic term “Litterally ‘dogging’ disease” (داء الكلب) from all of its communications, documents, scientific activities, and awareness campaigns.
This terminology carries scientific and psychological misinformation by falsely linking the disease exclusively to dogs, while rabies is a zoonotic disease affecting most mammals.
The AVSF will instead adopt the arabic term “rabies” (داء السعار) as the sole and official designation, which is the correct, globally recognized scientific terminology.
AVSF calls upon all national institutions, governmental and non-governmental, to do the same.
This change is essential because the previous terminology created a distorted sociopsychological perception in Algerian society, leading to misunderstanding of the disease and wrongly placing dogs as its source—whereas they are simply potential carriers, not originators.
Second: Establishment of Permanent Scientific Committees
1. AVSF Permanent Scientific Committee
This committee is responsible for:
Developing academic and scientific frameworks for training veterinarians and students
Creating sustainable training programs in epidemiology, vaccination, surgery, and One Health principles
Providing evidence-based, actionable recommendations to public authorities and stakeholders
Producing precise scientific roadmaps for national implementation
It serves as AVSF’s highest scientific authority.
2. Specialized Working Group on Rabies Eradication
Established within the Permanent Scientific Committee, this working group is tasked with:
Designing a robust, unified national scientific plan
Achieving rabies elimination in Algeria by 2030
The group works through full coordination between:
Veterinary medicine
Human medicine
Public health
Epidemiology
Environmental sciences and research institutions
Third: The Highest Priority — Eliminating Rabies, Not Merely Ending Culling
Ending the killing of stray dogs and cats is a moral and humanitarian milestone, but it is only the first step.
The absolute priority of the Algerian Veterinary Space Foundation today is the complete eradication of rabies at its source by 2030, through the adoption of the internationally validated approach known as: TNVR/M
Trap – Neuter – Vaccinate – Return / Management
This scientifically proven method has succeeded in dozens of countries by:
Breaking the virus transmission cycle
Reducing human and animal cases to near zero
Stabilizing stray animal populations demographically and behaviorally
Building safe, healthy, and environmentally balanced communities
Fourth: A National Call for Mass Mobilization
AVSF calls upon all veterinarians, technicians, and volunteers across the country to register immediately through the official platform on its website to participate in this historic national initiative.
Your expertise is the cornerstone of its success.
Fifth: Proclamation of a National Animal Welfare Day
In recognition of the positive and historic response of the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development in halting the inhumane culling of stray animals, the Algerian Veterinary Space Foundation declares:
15 November of each year, starting 2026, will be celebrated as the National Day for Animal Welfare.
AVSF hopes this designation will be officially adopted by the competent authorities.
For an Algeria free of rabies by 2030,
And for a veterinary practice that is modern, scientific, humane, and effective.**
Algerian Veterinary Space Foundation
19 November 2025
You can download the Official version of the Statement on PDF below.
