LAHORE:
In a historical decision, the Superior Court of Lahore has declared the murder of street dogs through shots, poisoning or other inhuman methods as illegal and unconstitutional throughout Punjab.
The sentence, pronounced on May 22, 2025, in the case, Eiraj Hassan and other vs. Punjab Government, led the provincial government to formally implement the animal birth control policy (ABC) 2021.
The policy establishes a comprehensive framework to manage the population of street dogs through vaccination, sterilization, labeling, registration and rehabilitation.
Defenders Eiraj Hassan and Altamush Saeed presented the petition, arguing that the generalized sacrifice of street dogs was a violation of the principles of animal welfare and basic human compassion.
The court, in its ruling, emphasized that killing street animals is in marked contradiction with constitutional rights, ethical norms and international standards.
In particular, murder incidents for inhuman dogs were often informed of luxury housing societies and certain municipal jurisdictions, where even government staff found an accomplice.
Despite the ruling, the concerns continue for the lack of institutional response mechanisms. There is currently no centralized help line to inform concerns of street dogs, and the police rescue center remains inactive.
The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty towards Animals (SPCA) also faces serious challenges due to limited staff and resources.
Attorney Altamush Saeed praised the Court’s decision as a great success for animal rights in Pakistan. He pointed out that the animal rescue center was summoned to the Court, but did not appear.
However, the departments such as the development of livestock and dairy and the local government assured the Court of Complete Implementation of the ABC policy.
According to the new policy, street dogs will be captured safely and not violently and taken to animal shelters. Here, they will undergo vaccination and sterilization.
Once considered healthy, they will be labeled and released again in the same town. Dogs that are completed or seriously injured will be humanly sacrificed under veterinary supervision using sodium pentotal, a indolate euthanasia drug.
The policy also provides that the establishment of refuge houses in each Tehsil be operated in collaboration with private welfare organizations or under government supervision. The monitoring committees in the district, Tehsil and the provincial levels will guarantee a strict implementation.
Experts indicate that, although the decision of the court effectively prohibits cruel sacrifice, the application in the field of sterilization and the construction of shelters remain slow.
Dr. Haider Ali Khan, spokesman for the Department of Livestock and Dairy Development, explained that the municipal staff will have the task of capturing dogs and transporting them to veterinary centers for sterilization, after which animals will be returned to their localities. Veterinary hospitals in Punjab have been notified and prepared to participate.
Although politics offers a progressive and human framework, its success depends on the coordination between agencies, the sustained participation of the community and the appropriate budget support.
The Government has pledged to assign dedicated funds for the implementation of ABC in the next fiscal year.
As Punjab changes to a more human and scientific approach to handle street dogs, civil society and local governments should now play a vital role to ensure that policy is more than ink on paper.
