LAHORE: The Punjab government has formulated a policy to neuter and vaccinate stray dogs instead of their culling considering that killing any living thing is a cruel act.

The proposed policy for the rehabilitation of stray dogs, their birth control, training and selling for security and screening purposes will soon be presented before the Punjab cabinet for a formal approval.

Chief Secretary Jawwad Rafique Malik on Friday chaired a meeting to review the policy at the Civil Secretariat. The meeting was attended by Additional Chief Secretary Iram Bukhari, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences (UVAS) Pro-Vice-Chancellor Dr Masood Rabbani and officers of the livestock, local government and law department.

The chief secretary said the killing of stray dogs was by no means a solution to the problem.

“Killing any living thing is a cruel act and is forbidden in our religion,” he stated.

He said the animal rights organisations also had concerns about the practice of killing dogs. Under the policy, he said, measures would be taken to neuter and vaccinate stray dogs and added that the livestock, local bodies and other departments concerned would work together. After providing training to stray dogs, he said, they could be sold for security and screening purposes.

ACS Iram Bukhari said the livestock department and the Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals had formulated the policy in consultation with all stakeholders and an action plan had also been prepared for its implementation.

She said a provincial steering committee would be set up at the provincial level in which the private sector would also be given representation. She said committees headed by deputy commissioners and assistant commissioners would be set up for its implementation in districts and tehsils. Services of the organisations working for the protection of animal rights would also be utilised for rehabilitation of dogs, she added.

UVAS PVC Dr Rabbani said so far about 300 officers and employees had been trained in policy implementation. He said the finance department had released funds of Rs74 million for vaccination of stray dogs against rabies.

He said the staff working for the rehabilitation of stray dogs would also be vaccinated against rabies.

Published in Dawn, May 29th, 2021