The Lahore High Court (LHC) has issued a detailed verdict allowing the culling of stray dogs, directing that incurable dogs be euthanised in a humane and comfortable manner.
Justice Javed Hassan announced the six-page ruling, specifying that the culling should follow the guidelines established by the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC).
This decision follows a petition filed by citizen Anila Umair and other petitioners, who sought to stop the ongoing operation against stray dogs in Rawalpindi.
The petitioners had previously requested that the killing of stray dogs be halted, but their concerns were not addressed.
In its ruling, the court noted that the relevant authorities informed the court that the operation had been initiated due to complaints from citizens about stray dogs. The veterinary officer from Rawalpindi explained that numerous complaints had been received regarding stray dogs biting people, which led to the start of the operation. Additionally, the officer stated that stray dogs were causing health, religious, and other serious issues, as well as creating significant distress for the public.
The petitioners’ lawyer suggested that alternative methods, such as providing food for the dogs, could be implemented to address the issue of dog bites, arguing that the dogs were attacking people due to hunger.
However, the court’s verdict emphasised that the government and other relevant parties must comply with policies regarding animal rights, public welfare, and safety. It also instructed that the culling be carried out according to the PMDC's guidelines and that euthanasia be performed humanely to avoid unnecessary suffering for the animals.
COMMENTS
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ