The Monday, March 5, edition of the Pakistani English language daily DAWN carries an advertisement by the Clifton Cantonment Board inviting applications from qualified candidates for recruitment as a “Dog Shooter”. According to the ad, the applicant must be an experienced person under 30 years of age, and must come with a licensed gunman.
The stray dogs of Pakistan need your help.
It is estimated that there are over a 100,000 stray dogs roaming the streets of Karachi, Pakistan. In an attempt to combat the spread of rabies, civic authorities have long been killing these dogs by strychnine poisoning and shooting with guns. They have even involved the general public in this from time to time by offering cash as reward for every dog killed. The proof? The dog’s tail…
Not only are these methods cruel and excessive, they are also ineffective in reducing animal populations as well as prevention in the spread of rabies. The WHO (World Health Organization) recommended long term strategy of catch/neuter/vaccinate/release is the only effective and humane method for dealing with rabies and stray populations.
We urge you to voice your opinion publicly in any capacity regarding the implementation of the WHO recommended humane strategy in Karachi as the time to do that is now.
Please write a polite letter to the Clifton Cantonment Board to insist that killing dogs is an ineffective approach and has never worked in Pakistan or any other country of the world. Remind them that under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1890, there is a penalty for cruelty to animals, punishable with a fine and imprisonment. Please urge them to stop the mindless killing of dogs and consider implementing a strategy that has been scientifically proven to be effective in many cities of the world.
Let us put an end to the madness. Together we can make it happen.
Cantonment Executive Officer
Cantonment Board Clifton
38 Khayaban-e-Rahat
DHA Phase 6
Karachi, Pakistan
Please also send your letters to editors of leading newspapers in Pakistan.
DAWN
letters@dawn.com
The News
news.post@thenews.com.pk
Daily Times
letters@dailytimes.com.pk
All letters should include the writer’s full name, postal address, e-mail address, and in the case of Pakistan, a day-time telephone number.
Note: Be sure to let us know if a publication prints your letter(s) so we can share your success with other writers.
Please forward this alert to your friends, family and colleagues.
To all concerned readers,
That is just awefull that these poor creatures have to be shoot. There is always a humane suggestion, such as the one put forward by WHO. We should go back and think about the fact that- why are they so many stray dogs about? Because of our carelessness, not just ours but through many generations, just abandoning there pets!!
I think another suggestion would be to take the younger dogs in to a compound and have them vacined, neutered, and offered as family pets, after they have been made healty. It would be great to see such places come up. And with the older dogs, they could be taken in by people who require guard dogs on farms, etc. Even if they have to be chained up for the day and let loose at night, they will still have a much better life (not that I am pro chaining dogs). Some times a lesser evil is better.
There is hardly anything being done for our friendly pawed friends. It would be so nice if you could take your dog out to a big park and have more dog shows- etc. Also dog school needs to be introduced.
Cheers to all the homeless dogs out there!!
Some effort must be made through universities. IBA and Agha Khan etc maybe, NC in Lahore would definitely be interested. A student body/club should be organised, which can then raise funds to maybe hire a vet who would neuter some dogs and treat other animals in need. The young people at good universities need to take the lead.
The residents of DHA Karachi would be grateful to any and all who could highlight the gross unjustification on the part of DHA and the Clifton Cantonment Board who insists on charging a very heavy annual tax – a substantial part of which is credited to the Water Department. In return majority of the residents suffer from extremely inadequate water supply and are left to the mercy of the water Mafia. their water is not only un hygenic but extremely expensive. Repeated visits and written complaints have resulted in rude replies by the so called responsible officials.
Good luck
Ashraf