Despite a clear stay order issued by the Honorable Lahore High Court Rawalpindi Bench in December 2024, brutal dog culling continues in Rawalpindi, sparking outrage from animal rights activists. The order, secured by Animal Rights Lawyer Altamush Saeed in the case Anila Umair v Govt of Punjab, specifically prohibits the inhumane practice.
This is not the first time such a stay order has been violated. On January 1, 2025, Altamush Saeed also won a similar order for Faisalabad and Jhang. Contempt proceedings have already been initiated in those cases to set a precedent against the illegal culling of dogs.
The ongoing culling in Rawalpindi is occurring amidst a misleading narrative being pushed by some media outlets. These outlets claim that a rise in the stray dog population is responsible for an increase in rabid dog bites, particularly among children. They are falsely portraying animal welfare activists, like Altamush Saeed, as being against the safety of children for opposing the culling.
However, animal rights advocates argue that the root cause of the issue is the lack of a proper sterilization and vaccination program for stray dogs. They emphasize that culling is not a long-term solution. In fact, it can exacerbate the problem. When dog populations are reduced through culling, the remaining dogs tend to overbreed to compensate, leading to a resurgence in numbers.
“Culling is not only inhumane, but it’s also ineffective,” stated Altamush Saeed. “The only way to manage the stray dog population humanely and effectively is through widespread sterilization and vaccination programs.”
Saeed has confirmed that he will be filing a contempt petition in the Rawalpindi court to address the blatant violation of the stay order. He aims to hold those responsible for the illegal culling accountable and to ensure that the court’s orders are respected.