Citizen questions killing of stray dogs; Official denies ban, says government is carrying it out
A screenshot of dead dogs dumped in a truck that supposedly belonged to the Suthra Punjab programme. —SCREEN CAPTURE
Another alleged incident related to the killing of stray dogs by the Lahore Metropolitan Corporation emerged after a new video emerged showing the carcasses of stray dogs being transported near Harbanspura Ring Road.
The video allegedly shows the dead dogs being loaded into vehicles associated with the Punjab Chief Minister’s Suthra Punjab programme. It also alleges that vehicles assigned to the cleanup initiative were used to transport the animals.
In the images you can hear a citizen questioning an official about the judicial ban on killing stray dogs. The official allegedly responds that “there is no ban” and that “the government is complying with it.”
The video has surfaced despite directions issued by the Lahore High Court demanding the Punjab government to implement the Punjab Animal Birth Control (TNVR) Policy 2021. During the court proceedings, government officials assured the court that the stray dogs would not be culled and would instead be managed under the policy through the Trap, Neuter, Vaccinate and Release (TNVR) programme. The court also warned that any violation of its orders could lead to contempt of court proceedings.
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The Punjab government introduced the TNVR Policy in 2021 as a humane approach to control the stray dog population. Under this policy, stray dogs must be captured, sterilized, vaccinated against rabies and returned to the same location.
Animal welfare organizations have repeatedly alleged that stray dogs continue to be killed in Lahore and other parts of Punjab despite court directions and the government’s stated policy. However, relevant authorities have denied such allegations on several occasions.
Animal rights activists also claim that incidents of stray dogs allegedly being killed have continued to surface in several private housing societies, raising further concerns over compliance with court orders and the provincial government’s animal control policy.
