Aiman Fatima
A civilized society is not only defined by its tall buildings, roads and development projects, but also by how it treats its weak and voiceless creatures. For the past few years, a campaign to shoot and poison stray dogs has been going on in Punjab. Although its aim is said to be to protect citizens from rabies and dog attacks, the question is whether this is the only and correct solution?One of the responsibilities of the government is to protect the lives and property of its citizens, and of course, it is necessary to deal with dogs that attack humans or are suffering from rabies. But the policy of eliminating the entire population not only raises ethical questions but is also scientifically and environmentally worrisome.The Lahore High Court has taken notice of this matter on several occasions.
In January 2023, it was argued before the court that thousands of dogs are being killed annually in the country through bullets and poison, even though international organizations consider mass vaccination and population control as effective strategies to eradicate rabies. Later, in December 2024, the Rawalpindi Bench ordered a halt to the dog killing campaign across Punjab. In March 2025, a stay order was also issued against this campaign in Lahore Division, and in January 2026, the Lahore High Court once again sought a response from the Punjab Government regarding the killing of dogs through shooting and poisoning. These court proceedings are proof that this problem has not only taken on an administrative nature but also a legal and moral one.Many countries in the world have learned from their experiences that killing dogs alone does not solve the problem. When dogs are eliminated from an area, after some time new dogs move in from other areas, because food and space are available.
Thus, the killing continues, but the problem persists. In contrast, programmes based on vaccination, sterilization, registration, better waste management and public awareness give more lasting results.Another aspect cannot be ignored. Dogs are part of the natural ecosystem. They play a role in disposing of the remains of dead animals, controlling the population of certain harmful animals, and maintaining biological balance. If an entire species or a large number of them are eliminated from an area, it can have unexpected environmental effects that are not always possible to predict in advance.At the same time, the use of firearms and toxic substances in residential areas is dangerous for humans themselves. Bullets can hit an innocent citizen, while poison can also prove fatal to children, pets and other wildlife. And this has happened. In Bahawalpur, a government official was beaten so badly that his leg was broken, simply for accidentally killing a pet dog. In 2021, a child died and several people lost consciousness after eating poisoned sweets that had been put out to kill dogs, and a municipal committee official was arrested.
These officials are carrying out government orders, but they also become the target of public anger and are dragged into court. On top of this, many times a mother dog has suffered after eating poisoned bait along with her young pups, watching her innocent offspring die alongside her. In addition, the methods used in government campaigns to kill dogs, cause severe pain and suffering to the animals.
During these campaigns, various chemicals are used that affect the nervous and respiratory systems of the animal, as a result of which the animal endures prolonged physical suffering before death occurs.The Punjab Government needs to adopt a comprehensive policy instead of temporary and ineffective measures: one that includes mass vaccination, sterilization programmes, animal registration, effective waste management and public awareness campaigns. This will not only help control rabies but will also protect the lives of both humans and animals.We must also remember that the earth does not belong to humans alone but is a shared trust of all living creatures. Development does not mean eliminating every living being that we find inconvenient. Real development is that which, along with protecting humans, also respects the balance of nature and the right to life of voiceless creatures.
