LAHORE: The Lahore High Court (LHC) was informed on Monday that the Mayo Hospital received over 1,700 dog-bite cases during the last 14 months.

A report submitted by an additional medical superintendent (AMS) of the hospital says that its accident and emergency department treated 1,796 patients,including children, who suffered dog bites, since Sept 24, 2024.

The report was filed during the hearing of a petition filed by Young Doctors Association (YDA) Secretary General Dr Salman Kazmi.

The petitioner seeks urgent action against the rising population of stray dogs and the unavailability of rabies vaccines across the province.

Justice Khalid Ishaq expressed his concern over the growing number of dog-bite incidents.

Acknowledging the animals rights, the judge, however, said the children could not be left to be bitten by dogs on the streets.

He directed the departments concerned to submit their detailed reports at the next hearing.

The petitioner’s counsel, Azhar Siddique, said the administration had not been taking action against stray dogs, pointing out that children cannot go outside in various localities of the city because of the menace.

He argued that the Animal Birth Control (ABC) Policy 2021, which bans dog culling, needed to be declared null and void.

He asked the court to direct the authorities concerned to provide free rabies treatment in all public hospitals and to compile a comprehensive report on the dog-bite cases, rabies fatalities and vaccine stocks across Punjab.

The lawyer further urged the court to suspend an earlier restraining order issued by the LHC in March 2025 that halted the killing of stray dogs under the ABC Policy, arguing that it had worsened the public health crisis.

Published in Dawn, November 18th, 2025