Hundreds of Caged Animals in Pet Shops Die Amid Coronavirus lockdown

In the wake of Coronavirus spread in Pakistan, the government had to put in place a lockdown that disallowed businesses of all sorts (other than basic amenities) to continue to run. In a hasty manner and to comply with the lockdown directive, many pet shop owners failed to comprehend the value of life their animals held and caged, without ventilation or food, hundreds of dogs, cats and rabbits were left locked inside the shops to die.

Upon various social media appeals and intervention of groups like Ayesha Chundrigar Foundation Animal Rescue in Karachi, access was given to animals in Empress Market that is said to be home to over 1,000 animals. However, as fate would have it many of the animals died during the two weeks complete lockdown and lack of air, water or food.

“When we got inside, the majority of them were dead, about 70 percent. Their bodies were lying on the ground. It was so horrific, I can’t tell you,” Dawn reported Ayesha Chundrigar who has now obliged government and shop owners to provide daily food to the 30% animals who were rescued.

Similar was the case of animals in Lahore who got locked up in shops at Tollinton Market. A few days into lockdown and authorities recovered 20 dead bodies of dogs in drains near the market.

“When the police opened up the shutters, a lot of animals were already lying dead inside,” said Kiran Maheen who still managed to rescue over two dozen pet animals including cats, dogs, and rabbits.