Many countries have stray dogs — Morocco is no exception. Their situation is often precarious, and in the run-up to the 2030 World Cup, it is becoming increasingly dangerous. “Beldi is best” — anyone who has spent even a short amount of time engaging with dogs in Morocco has likely come across this belief. But what exactly is a Beldi — and what role do stray dogs actually play in Moroccan society? In Moroccan Arabic, Beldi means “from the countryside,” “native,” “belonging to the country.” They are often mixed-breed dogs that exhibit traits of local breeds such as the Sloughi, a Moroccan sighthound, and the Aidi, a herding dog from the Atlas Mountains. But characteristics of other breeds will also frequently be found in Beldis — especially of German Shepherds and Huskies, breeds that are particularly popular in Morocco as pets because of their wolf-like appearance. Among dog lovers, the Beldi is considered especially resilient and loyal. Yet, although the Beldi is the Moroccan dog par excellence, and its very name marks it as native to the country, this sense of belonging is hardly …