In the last few days, operations were carried out in Sultan Colony, Township, Shadbagh, Green Town and other areas.
Dogs cornered in a truck during an operation in Lahore. —SCREEN CAPTURE
LAHORE:
A renewed campaign by the Municipal Corporation of Lahore (MCL) against stray dogs has sparked controversy, with animal rights activists alleging that dogs are being killed through poison injections and other inhumane methods in different parts of the city, while protesters are also facing legal action and harassment.
Operations against stray dogs were carried out in Sultan Colony, Township, Shadbagh, Green Town and several other localities in the last few days. According to the district administration and MCL officials, the action was initiated following complaints from residents and incidents of dog attacks.
The administration launched a large-scale operation after a child was killed in Sultan Colony a few days ago, alleging that several stray dogs had been captured during the drive. Authorities said the purpose of the operation was to ensure the safety of citizens and protect lives and property.
However, animal welfare organizations and activists described the operations as illegal and inhumane. They argued that as per the Punjab Animal Birth Control Policy 2021 and court directives, stray dogs should be sterilized and vaccinated instead of being killed.
Animal rights activist Fasiha Khan, in an Instagram post, alleged that stray dogs were being poisoned in Lahore and called for an immediate end to the campaign.
Similarly, Critters Ark Pakistan Welfare Organization claimed on May 6 that animal rights activists protesting outside the Lahore City Hall were detained.
Animal welfare activist Syed Ali Haider alleged that MCL staff had confined dozens of dogs, including puppies, inside a van and intended to kill them. He said he urged the administration to hand over the animals to shelters instead of killing them, but after the protest, a case was registered against him at the Islampura police station on charges of interfering with official duties.
He further claimed that he was told that the case could be withdrawn if he submitted an affidavit pledging not to protest the stray dog issue in the future.
Another social media post circulated on May 10 alleged that nearly 100 stray dogs were killed in and around Sultan Colony.
Meanwhile, hearings were also held last month in the Lahore High Court on the implementation of the Punjab Animal Birth Control Policy 2021. On April 14, government departments assured the court that measures in line with the policy would be taken to control the stray dog population and that large-scale killings would be avoided.
Rejecting allegations made by animal rights activists, MCL officials maintained that operations were being carried out in accordance with the law and public safety requirements. Immediate action was sometimes necessary in cases of dangerous or sick dogs, officials said, while public safety remained the top priority.
Experts and animal welfare organizations said the long-term solution to the stray dog problem lies in large-scale sterilization, vaccination, better waste management and registration of companion animals. They argued that culling campaigns provided only temporary relief and often did not address the root causes of the problem.
