The Metropolitan Corporation Lahore (MCL) is facing allegations that stray dogs are still being killed through gunshots or poisoning in parts of the city.
The claims have surfaced despite assurances given to the Lahore High Court (LHC) that authorities would follow the Punjab Animal Birth Control Policy 2021, which calls for vaccination, sterilization, and humane population control.
Residents in areas including Saggian Bridge claim dead dogs have been dumped in open spaces, creating foul smells and raising public health and animal welfare concerns.
One local shopkeeper said he saw a vehicle unloading dog carcasses near the bridge early in the morning, while another resident alleged that such culling had continued for several days.
The controversy further deepened after the University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences denied claims that stray dogs were being brought there for vaccination, saying it had received no such batches under any government program.
Animal rights activists also criticized the alleged killings, arguing that mass culling is neither humane nor effective in the long term and can undermine rabies-control efforts.
At the same time, stray dog attacks remain a serious concern in Lahore. In March, a nine-year-old girl, Mehr, died after being mauled by a pack of dogs in Township. Residents in Johar Town and other areas say children, women, and elderly people remain at risk as dogs continue to roam freely in the streets.
Following Mehr’s death, Lahore Deputy Commissioner retired Captain Muhammad Ali Ijaz launched a campaign against stray dogs.
However, during a court hearing, government departments, including the MCL and Suthra Punjab Agency Lahore, assured the Lahore High Court that they would implement the animal birth control policy in letter and spirit.
On the other hand, MCL and district administration officials deny any involvement in dog culling. They say dedicated teams capture hundreds of stray dogs daily, vaccinate some through the livestock department, and shift them outside the city.
MCL Chief Metropolitan Officer Shahid Kathia said more than 100,000 stray dogs are roaming Lahore, and that many return after being relocated. However, he insisted, “It is not true that our teams are killing dogs.”
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