Lahore:
The High Court of Lahore (LHC) ordered the Punjab authorities to do euthanasia only badly or fatally injured injuries fatally – and to do so strictly in accordance with medically approved and human protocols.
Judge Shahid Karim made the order during the hearing petitions deposited by Eiraj Hassan and others, seeking good application of the birth control policy (dogs) and the protection of stray dogs against inhuman slaughter practices.
The court stressed that the policy should be implemented “in letters and spirit” by all the departments concerned, including the local government and the Department of Community Development (LG & CD) and its affiliated Punjab officers.
The 2021 policy explicitly stresses that only dogs diagnosed as incurably sick or fatally injured by a qualified veterinarian appointed by a Tehsil implementation committee (ICT) can be euthanized. It also requires that euthanasia must be carried out with humanity – by administering sodium pentothal for adult dogs or intraperitoneal thiopénal for puppies.
Above all, the policy prohibits the euthanation of a dog in the presence of another dog.
The policy also prescribes directives for healthy health care and management.
Sterilized dogs must be vaccinated before being released and marked for the identification by earnings, tattoos, nylon necklaces or tokens.
The dog brand is expressly prohibited. Detailed recordings of all sterilized and vaccinated dogs must be maintained.
The petitioner’s lawyer, Altamush Saeed, urged the court to recognize that dogs are sensitive beings capable of emotions and must therefore not be subject to cruelty or brutal murders.
He argued that the most effective approach to controlling the population of wandering dogs and the eradication of rabies lies in mass vaccination and sterilization through TNVR (trat, neuter, vaccinate, return) protocols, supervised by qualified veterinarians.
Saeed also stressed that even rabid dogs should not be killed and without discernment the need to sterilize and move healthy dogs rather than kill them.
He also called for public awareness campaigns, the training of personnel in animal welfare and the introduction of animal welfare education in schools in accordance with articles 9, 9A and 25a of the Constitution, which relate to the right to life, security and education.
The court was informed that various ministries had already published directives to implement policy and compliance had started in several local offices. Judge Karim recognized the progress made, noting that the LG & CD seemed to be fully aware of its legal obligations and took measures accordingly.
“Given that the respondents comply with politics, as also emerges from the answers filed in this case, the petition is eliminated in the direction that the animal birth control policy (dogs) 2021 will continue to be implemented and followed by all the departments concerned,” said judge Karim in his final remarks.
The court order marks a significant change in the state approach to the management of stray dogs – focusing on human treatment, scientific methods and legal responsibility rather than reactive slaughter, often carried out under public or panic pressure.
Animal rights defenders welcomed judgment, calling it a progressive step towards ethical and effective control of the animal population and public health security.
