A staggering number of individuals across Punjab have been victims of stray dog bites between January 2024 and March 2026, according to a report from the provincial health and population department submitted to the Lahore High Court, Dawn reported.

The statistics reveal a persistent public health crisis, with 232,704 incidents recorded in 2024 and 243,299 cases in 2025. The surge has shown no signs of abating in the current year, as 38,586 dog bite cases were reported in the first three months of 2026 alone.