Lahore:
In a historical decision, the High Court of Lahore declared the murder of stray dogs by shooting, poisoning or other inhuman methods as illegal and unconstitutional through Punjab.
The judgment, rendered on May 22, 2025, in the Eiraj Hassan case and others against the Punjab government, prompted the provincial government to officially implement the policy of animal birth control (ABC).
The policy presents a complete framework for managing human population of the wandering dogs by vaccination, sterilization, marking, registration and rehabilitation.
The defenders Eiraj Hassan and Altamush Saeed filed the petition, arguing that the general felling of stray dogs was a violation of the principles of animal welfare and fundamental human compassion.
The Court, in its decision, stressed that the death of wandering animals is in contradiction affecting constitutional rights, ethical standards and international standards.
In particular, the incidents of inhuman killings of dogs have been frequently reported in high -end housing companies and certain municipal jurisdictions, where even government staff were found.
Despite the decision, concerns remain concerning the lack of mechanisms of institutional response. There is currently no centralized assistance line to report the concerns of stray dogs, and the rescue center for police animals remains largely inactive.
The company for the prevention of cruelty to animals (SPCA) is also faced with serious challenges due to the staff and limited resources.
Lawyer Altamush Saeed welcomed the court’s decision as a major success for animal rights in Pakistan. He stressed that the animal rescue center had been summoned to court but did not appear.
Nevertheless, services such as the development of livestock and dairy products and the local government have ensured the complete implementation of ABC policy.
Under the new policy, stray dogs will be captured safely and not violently and taken to animal shelters. Here, they will undergo vaccination and sterilization.
Once judged healthy, they will be labeled and released in the same locality. Dogs that are in terminal or seriously injured phase will be euthanized with humanity under veterinary supervision using sodium pentothal, a medication with painless euthanasia.
The policy also plans to create refuge houses in each tehsil, to manage in collaboration with private social protection organizations or under government surveillance. District, Tehsil and provincial level monitoring committees will guarantee strict implementation.
Experts note that although the Court’s decision effectively prohibits cruel slaughter, the application in the field of sterilization and the construction of shelters remain slow.
Dr. Haider Ali Khan, spokesperson for the Department of Breeding and Dairy Development, explained that municipal staff will be responsible for capturing dogs and transporting them to veterinary centers for sterilization, after which animals will be returned to their localities. Punjab veterinary hospitals have been informed and ready to participate.
Although the policy offers a progressive and human framework, its success depends on the coordination internsitutions, the sustained community participation and the adequate budgetary support.
The government is committed to allocating funds dedicated to the implementation of ABC in the next financial year.
While Punjab moves to a more human and scientific approach to manage stray dogs, civil society and local governments must now play a vital role to guarantee that politics is more than simple ink on paper.
