Stray dogs pose growing threat in Punjab as attacks, deaths rise

The growing population of stray dogs in Punjab has become a serious concern for public safety and animal welfare, as dog bite incidents rise alongside reports of inhumane killings, highlighting gaps in the implementation of existing policies.

In a recent case, Yasir Khan, a father of four from Umerkay Kalan in Sambrial tehsil, Sialkot, reportedly died after being bitten by a stray dog. Official data indicates that nearly 150,000 people across Punjab have suffered dog bites in the past six months.

Residents say packs of stray dogs are increasingly a threat to daily life. Farah Shehzad, a Garhi Shahu resident, said, “Stray dogs roam in packs. Children and adults cannot safely step outside their homes.” Asifa Khan from Canal Road added, “Killing dogs is not a solution. The government must take effective and permanent measures to control their population.”

Read: Stray dog cullinglands CDA in trouble

Animal rights organisations point to the Trap, Neuter, Vaccinate and Release (TNVR) policy, approved by the Punjab government in 2022, as a scientifically sound approach to controlling stray dogs. “The purpose of TNVR is to protect citizens from dog bites and rabies,” said Aiza Haider, an animal rights activist. She added that poor implementation of the policy has contributed to public anger and the continued use of inhumane methods.

Dr Talha Yazdani, Deputy Director of Punjab Livestock Lahore and a veterinarian at the Veterinary Hospital Burki, said, “Over the past few months, 300 dogs have been sterilised and 250 vaccinated at our centre. Bringing stray dogs from the field is the responsibility of local governments, but dogs flee upon seeing nets. The use of dart guns should be allowed to sedate them, as is done with wild animals.”

He also explained that the rising urban dog population is linked to reproduction patterns: “A male dog can mate with multiple females in a single season. Sterilising male dogs could be a more practical and cost-effective approach.” Dr Yazdani highlighted the public health aspect, noting, “Pakistan has committed to becoming rabies-free by 2030, which makes large-scale vaccination of stray dogs unavoidable.”

Read More: LHC allows culling of stray dogs with humane methods

Earlier, in a landmark ruling, the Lahore High Court has banned the killing of stray dogs through shooting, poisoning, or other inhumane methods, declaring such actions illegal and unconstitutional across Punjab. The judgment prompted the provincial government to implement the Animal Birth Control (ABC) Policy 2021, which provides for humane capture, vaccination, sterilization, tagging, and release of stray dogs.

Dr Haider Ali Khan, spokesperson for the Livestock and Dairy Development Department, said municipal staff will capture dogs and transport them to veterinary centers for sterilization before returning them to their localities.

Despite a Lahore High Court ban on killing stray dogs, complaints continue from across the province about dogs being poisoned or shot. Experts and citizens say the issue requires scientific, humane, and policy-based interventions rather than reactive measures, to ensure public safety while respecting animal rights.