iving in Johar Town, Lahore, hardly a day goes by when I don’t see a herd of cattle crossing the streets, on my way to college. It’s only when I visited Islamabad — not to imply that Islamabad is ‘greener pastures’ — I noticed how the streets were relatively free of stray animals. And it made me wonder if all the cows are wandering in Johar Town, where do we get our milk from?

There are those who say that excessive numbers of animals in the streets does not really qualify as an issue. I beg to differ. On most days, the issue is borderline annoyance; as we get closer to Eid-ul Azha, entirely new entourages of snazzy goats, sheep and cows proliferate in the streets. These sacrificial animals out in the streets cause traffic delays. After all, what can be more annoying than having to wait for a herd of self-satisfied, prim and proper goats to evacuate the road when you had to be at school (or work) ten minutes ago?

Even disregarding the traffic disruptions, herds of animals on the roads can lead to more severe consequences than procrastinators’ ire, as there is a danger of road kill.

Animals bred in the rural vicinities of Lahore to be slaughtered on Eid should be properly contained in mandis, rather than loitering the streets for a better bargain. I must confess that the herders are not the only ones at fault here; people regularly look for animals in the streets ahead of Eid in order to bargain for a steal. Animals should not be allowed into the city months before Eid. They should remain in their designated mandis as it is safer for the residents as well as the sellers.

Moving on from the seasonal Eid tourism, the regulars in Lahore include packs of wiry and often rabid dogs; countless cats which poop in your favourite plant pots (and continue to do so despite your mother religiously attacking them with chappals); and completely friendly flocks of kites which could definitely not pass for blood-hungry eagles.

What can be more annoying than having to wait for a herd of self-satisfied, prim and proper goats to evacuate the road when you had to be at school (or work) ten minutes ago?

The kites, for one, can be the citizens’ fault as people continue to leave charity meat on their roofs and ledges. Consequently, the population of kites has exploded, leading to the extinction of smaller bird species and kite attacks on innocent passers-by.

The government has previously led campaigns to limit the stray dog population, but they proved ineffective and led to animal cruelty in the form of culling, with experts estimating that up to 20,000 dogs in the city are killed annually.

Sustainable solutions to the overpopulation of strays can be achieved through neutering and spaying. More shelters like Todd’s Welfare Society should be formed to take in strays. It’s imperative to control these issues right now as they can become irreversible by tipping the delicate balance of ecosystem.

It is also important to note that most strays are only seen in underprivileged parts of Lahore — after all, stray dogs could never be tolerated on the scenic, picket fence, green hedge roads of DHA. As such, only the less privileged face problems such as excessive noise, land pollution and traffic disruption. I hope that soon Lahore’s streets are free from animals. For now, it looks like I may have to start setting my morning alarm earlier.

The writer is an interdisciplinary student of literature and sciences at Lahore College of Arts and Sciences. She can be reached at fajr.rauf5@gmail com