Stray dogs shot dead in private housing society despite court ban

Court has directed the Punjab government to enforce the TNVR policy

In a disturbing incident on Defence road in Lahore’s Kahna area, unidentified motorcyclists opened fire on stray dogs within a private housing society, killing several animals during the night.

CCTV footage and photographs of the incident have surfaced, clearly showing armed individuals shooting at the dogs before fleeing the scene.

https://x.com/imasifmehmood/status/1945770682626748443

This act of violence occurred despite a clear ban imposed by the Lahore High Court on the killing of stray dogs.

The court has directed the Punjab government to enforce the TNVR (Trap, Neuter, Vaccinate, Release) policy, which aims to control the stray dog population through humane methods rather than lethal measures.

Residents of the area reported that the shooters arrived late at night, targeted the dogs, and fled immediately after the gunfire.

Locals claim this is not an isolated case; similar incidents have been reported in other parts of the city where stray dogs have been killed in the same manner.

While citizens acknowledge that stray dog attacks—particularly on children—pose a real danger and are a growing concern in urban areas, they also criticise government authorities, especially municipal corporations and the livestock department, for failing to implement effective and humane solutions.

There is currently no official government estimate of the stray dog population in Lahore. However, civil society groups and environmental organisations estimate that the city is home to between 30,000 and 35,000 stray dogs. The majority of these animals remain unvaccinated and unneutered, which increases the public health risk.

Experts warn that unless the TNVR policy is properly implemented, the stray dog issue will continue to worsen.

They caution that in the absence of official intervention, citizens may resort to harsh and unlawful actions on their own, leading to further legal and social complications.