In a disturbing incident on Defence Road in Lahore’s Kahna area, unidentified motorcyclists opened fire on stray dogs inside a private housing society, killing multiple animals during the night. The act has sparked outrage and renewed criticism of the authorities’ failure to implement humane stray dog control measures.
CCTV footage and images from the scene show the armed individuals arriving on motorcycles, opening fire on the dogs, and fleeing immediately afterward. The footage was widely circulated on social media, prompting calls for accountability and enforcement of existing court orders.
The incident occurred despite a clear ban by the Lahore High Court on the killing of stray dogs. The court has instructed the Punjab government to enforce the TNVR (Trap, Neuter, Vaccinate, Release) policy, which aims to control stray dog populations through humane and non-lethal methods. The policy has yet to be fully implemented across the city.
Residents of the Kahna area confirmed that the attack happened late at night and that the dogs were intentionally targeted. Local sources also claim that similar shootings have occurred in other parts of Lahore, raising concerns that such violent actions may be part of a broader, unofficial pattern.
While many citizens acknowledge the growing danger posed by unvaccinated and aggressive stray dogs, particularly to children, they also blame municipal corporations and the livestock department for failing to establish and manage sustainable solutions. The lack of coordinated action has fueled both public safety fears and animal rights violations.
Experts warn that without full-scale enforcement of the TNVR framework, stray dog populations will continue to grow, along with the risk of rabies outbreaks and citizen-led vigilante action. In the absence of official intervention, they say, the situation could spiral into widespread lawlessness and legal challenges for those taking matters into their own hands.
Lahore currently lacks an official estimate of its stray dog population, but environmental and civil society groups suggest the number could be as high as 30,000 to 35,000, most of them unvaccinated and unneutered.
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