Calls to cull stray dogs opposed

Animal rights advocates stress breeding control steps

LAHORE:

Animal rights activists have opposed calls for culling stray dogs after several incidents of attacks on citizens across Punjab.

They argue that despite decades of culling, the number of dog bite cases has not significantly declined.

The Pakistan Animal Rights Activist Group stated that authorities should ensure implementation of the trap, neuter, vaccinate and release (TNVR) policy and take action against those responsible for its non-enforcement.

Rights activist Altamash Saeed said the growing stray dog population was primarily due to the failure to control their breeding.

He noted that the TNVR policy, approved in 2021, is based on guidelines of the World Health Organisation and is being implemented in several South Asian countries.

He added that in Pakistan, instead of enforcing this policy, authorities continue to resort to killing dogs, which is neither effective nor a long-term solution.

The activists stressed that eliminating large numbers of dogs in response to isolated incidents does not address the root problem.