The Environmental and Animal Rights Forum has revealed that approximately 50,000 stray dogs are killed annually in Pakistan using cruel and inhumane methods, such as shooting and poisoning, which the forum deems illegal and excruciatingly painful for the animals. In a strong statement, the forum demanded that the government immediately halt such practices and enforce humane alternatives.
Altamush Saeed, head of the Environmental and Animal Rights Forum, highlighted a recent legal victory at the Lahore High Court Rawalpindi Bench, where a case against the brutal killing of stray dogs was won. The ruling, issued by Honorable Justice Jawad Hassan on February 6, 2025, in Anila Umair v Govt of Punjab (W.P. No. 3787 of 2024), bans inhumane culling and mandates adherence to compassionate protocols. Saeed noted that the petition, filed under Article 199 of Pakistan’s 1973 Constitution, challenged the widespread, indiscriminate, and unlawful slaughter of stray dogs, violating existing animal welfare laws.
“This judicial decision is a historic turning point in the fight for animal welfare in Pakistan,” Saeed declared, calling it a legal acknowledgment that killing dogs in cruel and inhumane ways is unlawful. He urged the government to implement laws preventing such atrocities and adopt sterilization and vaccination programs as humane alternatives to culling. “Dogs deserve compassion, not cruelty,” he emphasized, pressing for stricter enforcement of animal rights legislation.
Saeed pointed to existing legal frameworks, including the Punjab Animal Birth Control Policy 2021, the Punjab Animal Health Act 2019, and the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1890, which outline protocols for managing stray dog populations humanely. He called on the government to ensure compliance with these laws, arguing that they provide clear guidelines for ethical treatment and population control without resorting to violence.
The forum’s revelations and demands come amid growing concerns over stray dog management in Pakistan, with activists advocating for a shift from barbaric practices to sustainable, compassionate solutions.
