Protecting Animals During Eid-ul-Azha in Pakistan

Pakistan’s increasingly severe heatwaves, with temperatures frequently soaring between 40 °C and 50 °C in provinces such as Sindh, Punjab, and Balochistan (PMD, 2024), impose grave welfare risks on both humans and animals. During Eid-ul-Azha, when millions of goats, sheep, and cattle are concentrated in urban environments for sacrifice, the dangers multiply. Over 20 percent of livestock deaths in Pakistan during summer months are directly attributed to heat stress and associated complications (Pakistan Veterinary Medical Association, 2023).

Dehydration manifests rapidly: goats and sheep subjected to prolonged sun exposure can lose up to 15 percent of their body weight in water within 24 hours, while cattle, especially high-yield dairy breeds, face a higher metabolic heat load, rendering them more susceptible to heatstroke (FAO, 2023). The urban heat island effect further exacerbates conditions in cities like Karachi, Lahore, and Multan, where concrete surfaces and sparse vegetation cause ambient temperatures to rise an additional 2-3 °C, leading to record levels of animal heat exhaustion cases (WWF-Pakistan, 2024).

Transport conditions are also problematic: livestock penned in overcrowded trucks without adequate ventilation can experience internal temperatures exceeding their thermoneutral zone within hours. Once offloaded in holding pens or temporary urban shelters, animals often lack sufficient shade or cooling systems. Moreover, water provision is frequently inadequate; many sacrificial sites rely on intermittent municipal water supplies, causing prolonged thirst. Heat-induced immunosuppression further heightens vulnerability to secondary infections, respiratory and digestive disorders surge as stressed animals’ feed intake drops, weakening overall resilience. Urban stray dogs and cats, as well as wild birds forced from natural habitats, tumble into similar predicaments: heatstroke and dehydration have led to spikes in animal rescue calls and wildlife mortality reports during peak summer months.

Mitigating these risks necessitates preemptive measures. Stakeholders must ensure the availability of shaded, well-ventilated holding areas equipped with multiple watering stations, ideally supplemented by misting fans or evaporative cooling pads. Transport vehicles should be retrofitted with insulated roofs and side openings to maintain air circulation during transit. Veterinary services need to establish mobile response units at large sacrifice centers to monitor animal health, administer electrolyte solutions, and provide on-the-spot cooling interventions such as cold-water hosing for heat-stricken livestock. By implementing such strategies, Pakistan can significantly reduce heat-related animal distress and mortality during critical summer periods.

Islamic Teachings on Animal Welfare During Eid-ul-Azha

Islamic teachings consistently emphasize compassion and mercy toward animals, especially during Eid-ul-Azha when countless believers perform sacrificial rites. The Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) declared, “Whoever is kind to Allah’s creatures, Allah will be kind to him” (Sahih Bukhari), underscoring that kindness to animals reflects one’s faith. Additionally, he instructed, “Do not treat animals harshly; slaughter with kindness” (Sunan Ibn Majah), guiding Muslims to ensure that the act of sacrifice is swift and minimally distressing. These directives establish that Eid-ul-Azha transcends mere ritual: it mandates ethical treatment, responsible care, and the avoidance of unnecessary suffering.

Accordingly, the Pakistan Islamic Ideology Council (2023) has issued practical guidelines to uphold these values. Owners are urged to provide adequate shade and clean water prior to sacrifice, acknowledging that, in Pakistan’s extreme heat, dehydration and overheating can cause severe distress. Animals should not be overcrowded in confined enclosures; rather, sufficient space allows them to remain calm and reduces the risk of trampling or panic. When the time for sacrifice arrives, using sharp, clean knives is essential to achieve an immediate severance of major blood vessels, minimizing pain and ensuring a quick loss of consciousness. Moreover, it is recommended to position the animal facing the Qibla, recite “Bismillah Allahu Akbar,” and perform the cut with a single, unhesitating stroke. Any hesitation or multiple cuts contradicts the principle of a merciful sacrifice.

Beyond procedural norms, Islam also forbids sale of live animals in markets under the blazing sun without water and rest and condemns capture of stray animals for ill‐treatment. Communities are encouraged to organize designated, hygienic sacrifice sites away from residential areas, staffed by trained handlers and veterinarians who can monitor animal health, administer electrolytes if need, and intervene promptly if distress arises. By adhering to prophetic guidance and institutional recommendations, Eid‐ul‐Azha becomes an expression of devotion that honors both divine command and the sanctity of animal life.

Recognizing and Managing Heatstroke and Dehydration in Animals

Heatstroke and dehydration can strike animals quickly under intense summer conditions, so caregivers must remain vigilant for early warning signs. An animal suffering from severe dehydration often exhibits a dry nose and sunken eyes, indicating excessive fluid loss. Excessive panting, drooling, or lethargy are clear indicators that an animal is struggling to regulate its body temperature. Loss of appetite and generalized weakness further suggest the animal is in distress. To confirm dehydration, perform a simple skin‐tenting test: gently pinch the skin between the shoulder blades and release it. If the skin does not snap back into place immediately, this delayed response signals that the animal’s fluid levels are dangerously low.

If heatstroke is suspected, immediate first aid can be lifesaving. Move the animal to a shaded or ventilated area without delay. Encourage the animal to take small sips of cool water; adding an oral rehydration solution (ORS) or a pinch of salt and sugar can help replace lost electrolytes. To lower body temperature, apply wet towels around critical areas, especially the ears, neck, and legs, while avoiding the use of ice‐cold water, which may shock the animal’s system and worsen its condition.

Preventive measures play an equally crucial role in protecting animals from heat‐related emergencies. Provide ample shade using tarps, jute sacks, or temporary shelters that block direct sunlight. To enhance evaporative cooling, wet the surrounding ground so that animals can lie on cooler surfaces. Ensuring proper airflow, whether through open‐sided shelters or electric fans, helps reduce ambient temperatures. Hydration must be continuous: place multiple water bowls in shaded spots and change the water frequently to maintain a cool supply. Birds, in particular, benefit from shallow dishes placed at height to protect them from ground predators while they drink.

Adjust feeding practices to support hydration. Offer water‐rich foods such as cucumber slices, watermelon rinds, or soaked fodder, and avoid heavy grains during peak heat hours between 10 AM and 4 PM. Mint‐infused water or lemon‐salt water can act as refreshing hydrators. During the hottest part of the day, refrain from walking or feeding animals; instead, schedule these activities for early morning or late evening. Do not tether animals in direct sunlight and keep living spaces clean by removing waste daily to prevent flies and infections. Sprinkling neem leaves around shelters serve as a natural insect repellent.

Special consideration should be given to stray animals, following the Prophet Muhammad’s (PBUH) example of compassion. Placing water bowls outside homes or community centers allows strays to hydrate. Unseasoned leftover food can offer much‐needed nourishment. Community efforts, such as mosques and welfare groups establishing animal cooling stations, can significantly reduce heat‐related suffering. Simple home remedies also offer relief: hanging wet jute sacks near shelters encourages evaporative cooling, and wiping animals with damp cloths, particularly around the ears and underbelly, helps lower their body temperature. By recognizing early warning signs, administering prompt first aid, and implementing practical cooling strategies, caregivers can safeguard animals from the dangers of heatstroke and dehydration.

Government and NGO Initiatives in Pakistan

In response to escalating heatwave conditions, the Punjab Livestock Department (2024) has instituted a series of advisories aimed at guiding farmers through extreme temperature events. These advisories emphasize the importance of providing additional shades such as temporary canopy structures over animal enclosures, and suggest adjusting feeding schedules to cooler parts of the day. Farmers are encouraged to monitor their herds for early signs of heat stress, including rapid breathing, drooping ears, and reduced feeding intake. The Department also distributes pamphlets detailing the preparation of simple electrolyte solutions, ensuring that livestock can maintain hydration when water sources become scarce. Extension officers travel to rural districts, demonstrating low‐cost techniques such as constructing mud walls around animal pens to lower ambient temperatures and using gel packs or damp cloths as localized cooling aids.

Meanwhile, WWF‐Pakistan has advocated for the establishment of urban animal shelters to protect both stray and domestic animals from the urban heat island effect. Through partnerships with municipal authorities, WWF has identified vacant warehouses and large public halls that can be retrofitted with ventilation fans and insulated roofing materials. Volunteers and veterinary students staff these shelters, offering routine health checks and administering oral rehydration solutions. Educational campaigns organized by WWF encourage communities to install shaded water stations outside homes and parks so that animals on the streets have reliable access to clean water. Additionally, WWF connects local veterinarians with community leaders to coordinate mobile animal care units, which periodically patrol neighborhoods to distribute water bowls, conduct medical triage, and relocate severely heat‐stressed animals to cooler environments.

Civil society organizations such as the Edhi Foundation and Al-Khidmat have also launched free, temporary water stations across major cities like Karachi, Lahore, and Peshawar. These stations, set up at strategic intervals along busy roadways and in underserved urban slums, consist of large water tanks with multiple troughs lowered to ground level so that stray dogs, cats, and birds can drink without disturbance. Trained volunteers refill these tanks twice daily, early morning and late afternoon, to ensure the supply remains cool. Al-Khidmat teams go further by distributing inexpensive “cooler boxes” filled with ice packs near high‐traffic animal areas and providing awareness leaflets in local languages about how citizens can create their own low‐cost watering points. Edhi ambulances are on standby for animal rescue calls, transporting dehydrated or heat‐afflicted animals to partner clinics for emergency care. Collectively, these government and NGO efforts create a multilayered safety net, combining proactive advisories, dedicated shelters, and community‐based water relief points to alleviate the impact of Pakistan’s brutal summer heat on vulnerable animal populations.

Conclusion

As Pakistan faces intensifying heatwaves, protecting animals during Eid-ul-Azha is both a moral obligation and a religious duty. Extreme temperatures exceeding 40-50°C (PMD, 2024) pose life-threatening risks to livestock, with 20% of summer livestock deaths linked to heat stress (Pakistan Veterinary Medical Association, 2023). Islamic teachings mandate mercy, Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) urged kindness to animals, emphasizing that "a good deed done to a living creature is as meritorious as one done to a human" (Sahih Muslim).

Practical measures, shade, hydration, and cooling interventions can save lives. Government and NGO initiatives, such as Punjab’s livestock advisories and WWF’s urban shelters, provide critical support, but community action is paramount. Placing water bowls, using wet jute sacks for cooling, and avoiding midday exposure are simple yet impactful steps.

This Eid let us honor the spirit of sacrifice by ensuring no animal suffers unnecessarily. By combining Islamic ethics, scientific care, and collective effort, we can transform Eid-ul-Azha into a model of compassionate stewardship, aligning ritual with responsibility for all of Allah’s creations.

References: PMD; FAO; Pakistan Veterinary Medical Association; WWF-Pakistan; Islamic Ideology Council of Pakistan; Punjab Livestock Department

Please note that the views expressed in this article are of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of any organization.

The writer is affiliated with the Department of Agriculture & Agribusiness Management, University of Karachi, Karachi, Pakistan and can be reached at ibtihaj.agro.livestock@gmail.com

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