K-P neuters over 1,500 stray dogs under rabies control drive

PESHAWAR: The Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Livestock and Dairy Development Department has neutered 1,514 stray dogs and vaccinated around 5,048 canines over the past year to control rabies and manage stray dog populations.

Senior Veterinary Officer Muhammad Riaz Khan said the neutering programme, initially launched in Peshawar in 2020, has now expanded to divisional levels after showing a 50% reduction in dog bite cases. Plans are underway to extend the drive across the province, including the establishment of an operation theatre at a veterinary hospital for further procedures.

Authorities are also working to set up K-P’s first government-run dog shelter home in Peshawar’s Regi Lalma area at a cost of Rs15 million, providing food and medical care for injured, sick, and disabled stray dogs. The department has sought updated dog bite and rabies data to assess the project’s impact.