In light of a viral video showing a dog attack, Pakistan faces renewed calls to address its stray dog population crisis. While the video originates from India, the public outcry highlights the urgent need for a sustainable, humane solution to similar incidents in Pakistan.
Poisoning and shooting stray dogs – a practice dating back to 1947 – unfortunately remains the default response in many parts of the country. However, experts warn this outdated approach is ineffective, harmful to society, and poses severe public health and environmental risks.
In 2022, Punjab became the first province to notify the Dog Birth Control Policy of 2021, spearheaded by the Livestock Department. This groundbreaking initiative reflects global best practices recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO). The policy mandates mass vaccination and sterilization as the only sustainable method to control stray dog populations, curb the spread of rabies, and minimize environmental risks.
The success of this approach is evident in neighboring countries such as India, Bangladesh, Bhutan, and Afghanistan, where similar policies have drastically reduced dog bites and rabies cases. With comparable economic conditions, these nations demonstrate that humane population control is both feasible and effective.
Stray dog populations are governed by biological equilibrium. When populations are culled through poisoning or shooting, reproductive rates surge to compensate, resulting in rapid repopulation. This creates a vicious cycle that undermines public safety.
Sterilization, by contrast, reduces aggression, lowers testosterone levels, and gradually decreases the stray dog population without disrupting ecological balance.
Failing to implement this policy nationwide comes at a steep price. Rabies alone costs Pakistan’s healthcare system Rs. 188 million annually, according to the Global Alliance for Rabies Control. Mass vaccination of dogs is the most cost-effective and long-term method of preventing rabies in humans.
The culling of stray dogs carries significant ethical, psychological, and environmental consequences. Research highlights a disturbing link between animal cruelty and social violence. Individuals involved in mass animal killings are at higher risk of developing psychological trauma, with an increased likelihood of engaging in domestic abuse and other violent behaviors – a phenomenon known as The Link.
Furthermore, the disposal of poisoned or shot dog carcasses poses environmental and public health hazards. In Karachi, the failure to safely dispose of poisoned dogs tragically led to the death of a child. Decomposing bodies, if left unattended, can contaminate water supplies and perpetuate zoonotic diseases, risking future pandemics.
Islam places significant emphasis on the humane treatment of animals. Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) taught that mercy towards animals is a moral duty, and cruelty towards them harms both the environment and human society. Pakistan’s constitution enshrines the right to life, dignity, and a clean environment – rights that are inextricably linked to humane animal management.
Altamush Saeed, a prominent Human, Environmental, and Animal Rights lawyer said:
A nationwide Dog Birth Control Policy is not just a necessity for animal welfare, but for public health, environmental sustainability, and societal stability. By scaling this policy across the country, we can protect our people, preserve our environment, and ensure the humane treatment of stray animals.
As Pakistan continues to grapple with this decades-old issue, the federal and provincial governments must collaborate to implement a unified, nationwide Dog Birth Control Policy. Public awareness campaigns, vaccination drives, and sterilization programs must be expanded to every corner of the country to safeguard both human and animal lives.
The time for compassionate, science-based solutions is now. A national strategy will not only mitigate public health risks but also foster a more harmonious coexistence between communities and stray animals.
Altamush Saeed is Pakistan’s leading Human, Environmental, and Animal Rights lawyer with three Master of Laws (LL.M) degrees from the University of Michigan, Lewis and Clark Law School, and LUMS Law School. He is the founder of Environmental and Animal Rights Consultants Pakistan, the country’s first law firm and think tank dedicated to advancing environmental and animal welfare reforms