Faisalabad Focus: Silent Sufferers of the Streets

By Hasnain Haider

In Faisalabad, a city where concrete rises faster than compassion, a quiet war is on — not between humans, but between humans and the stray dogs who dared to share their streets.

The plight of Faisalabad stray dogs has been growing worse over the years, with countless innocent animals facing neglect and cruelty.

Samina Ahmed, an animal welfare worker, has been actively documenting this silent suffering for the last two years.

Talking to Grand Lines, she said, “Animals are being killed for no reason,” her cracking voice carrying both fatigue and defiance.

She noted that the stray dogs are being killed by people and sometimes by state departments without any valid justification.

She pointed out that Faisalabad boasts an animal shelter near Gatwala Canal Road; however, the facility remains mostly deserted due to the indifferent attitude of its managers. We can safely say this animal shelter is a hollow promise in the name of welfare, she added.

“Different teams of government departments capture dogs from various areas. They load them into vans, claiming to take them to the shelter. But it has been observed that these stray dogs never make it there. Following alleged poisoning, these dogs are dumped in hidden places where no one can find or save them,” she explained.

People at the helm of affairs must evolve a strategy to protect these animals rather than killing them with impunity, she hinted.

The Growing Crisis of Faisalabad Stray Dogs

Her account echoes that of locals like Sami Ahmed from 66-JB Dahandla, who also described a grim routine of cruelty.

He claimed, “People poison dogs through food, milk, chicken and bread — all mixed with toxins. They do it whenever they wish, even without any threat from the dogs or their puppies.”

Local man feeding Faisalabad stray dogs and cats, showing compassion and care

Representing a rare flicker of compassion in this dark landscape, he looks after more than 40 cats and several dogs at his outhouse (dera) where he feeds them daily to keep them healthy and alive.

He told Grand Lines that the dogs in his shelter are familiar with their surroundings. They are not posing any threat to the residents of the area; only rabid dogs are dangerous for people.

However, he lamented that people don’t see the difference; they prefer to kill them all — even the friendly ones.

Understanding Stray Dogs’ Role in the Community

We have to understand, particularly the denizens of rural areas, that stray dogs are not our enemies. They are able to save us from dangerous species like wild animals and snakes. They just need love, care and sincerity from us, he remarked.

Neglect in Animal Shelters Across Faisalabad

In a country, where animal shelters often exist in name only, the neglect is systemic. Many such shelters, he said, neither respond to emergencies nor provide care for strays.

He argued that Faisalabad’s situation mirrors a larger national crisis — one of indifference.

He said that it is being claimed that many animal shelter houses have been set up in Faisalabad and across Pakistan. But unfortunately, most of them do not respond timely to extend medical treatment in case stray dogs are involved in an accident, he added.

Community Responsibility for Stray Dog Welfare

It is the duty of humans to care for animals living around them with love and to stand up for their rights to live, he remarked.

He also urged the government to pay attention to this issue and take practical steps to control the increasing rate of animal killings. Day by day, he noted that the number of street dogs is decreasing.

The Need for Policy Action Against Animal Cruelty

Mohsin Ali, another animal lover, said killing innocent stray dogs is not a solution to the issue. He questioned how someone could kill a stray dog by claiming the dog rushed towards him.

“We have observed a number of times in the park that people come with their dogs and let them loose so they can walk,” he added.

Multiple times, we have observed that people vent their ire by seeing the free dogs. It does not mean we should kill such dogs only to satisfy the anger of such people. However, he added, it’s the responsibility of the dog owners to keep their animals under control so that others don’t feel threatened anywhere, he added.

As the number of street dogs continues to fall, animal rights advocates warn that the killings reflect not just a loss of life — but a loss of empathy. The government, they insist, must move beyond token gestures and address this brutality with real policy.

Names have been changed to protect the identity of the people.

Author Profile

Hasnain Haider: Hasnain Haider is a passionate journalist with a keen eye for stories that matter.

He focuses on social issues, crime, and everyday life in Pakistan, aiming to bring real voices and untold truths to the public.

With a growing presence in digital journalism, Hasnain combines curiosity, clarity, and commitment to accuracy in every story he writes.