Actress and model Zhalay Sarhadi has spoken out against the large-scale killing of stray dogs in Punjab, calling the practice “inhumane” and questioning why authorities continue despite court orders against dog culling.

In a video shared on Instagram, the actress addressed viral clips circulating online that allegedly show piles of dog carcasses in Lahore. She criticised the authorities’ handling of the stray dog population and argued that Pakistan has failed to implement humane solutions such as neutering and vaccination programmes.

According to Zhalay, the issue of stray dogs continues to grow due to a lack of sustained sterilisation and vaccination efforts. Instead, she said, culling remains the default response. “We have no solution except killing them,” she said in the video, questioning who has the right to take the lives of animals that cannot defend themselves or speak for themselves.

Comparing conditions in rural Sindh with major urban centres, she claimed that humans and stray animals coexist more peacefully in rural areas, while aggression towards animals is more common in cities.

Despite her criticism of authorities, Zhalay praised private shelters and welfare organisations working for animal welfare, saying that rescuing animals has increasingly become the responsibility of citizens and independent groups rather than the state.