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For those who care the stray dog situation in Kathmandu Valley is a painful subject. Every day those four legged loyal friends remind us of the fact that we fail to provide a space for ‘man’s best friend’. They lie injured along busy highways, are being chased away even when giving birth, and sometimes are injured deliberately by angry youth or shopkeepers. Still, Nepal’s stray dogs are among the most intelligent and dignified living beings we’ve ever come across. Animal Nepal wants to contribute to a lasting solution to the problems related to stray dogs in Nepal.
Background
There are a large numbers of stray dogs in Kathmandu metropolitan area alone – close to 35,000 at any one time (including "community dogs")*.
Most of urban stray dogs are discarded pets that have become sick, pregnant or developed aggressive behaviour, or are the offspring of such animals. While the quality of veterinary care has improved in the country, there is a lack of awareness among the general public about its potential, plus an absence of modern facilities.
Fear of rabies has also bred short-term, misinformed responses to the dilemma faced by government which has resorted to strategies involving unscientific and cruel strychnine poisoning programs.
All these factors and more have fed a complex serious stray dog problem for Nepal, which is more than ready for a humane, efficient and long-term solution to its over-population of dogs. Lalitpur District, which is home to at least 35 percent of Kathmandu Valley’s canine population, up to recently had no animal support services at all. Animal Nepal, which is based in Patan, has been rescuing dogs on an improvised basis since 2003.
The dogs were sheltered at volunteers’ houses or taken to shelters in Kathmandu. A number of the rescued female dogs were also sterilised, while all dogs received rabies vaccines before being released on the street or adopted by new owners.
Project Profile
Animal Nepal in 2009 launched a Pilot Community-Based Stray Dog Rescue & Release Programme called Patan Rescue. Since 2004 Animal Nepal has run an ad-hoc Rescue & Relief Programme in co-operation with the Mobile Vet Clinic assisting sick and/or stray dogs in Patan, Lalitpur District, the Southern part of Kathmandu City. The organisers in 2009 established a pilot project with the following objective: Create a healthy, reduced stray dog population in Kathmandu Valley through community-based foster and rehabilitation care.
The programme aims at evaluating the following strategies:
For more information
Please download one or all of these PDF files:
The Patan Rescue programme is sponsored by Brigitte Bardot Foundation, Humane Society International, Mayhew Animal Home and Serve and Share Holland. A number of individuals sponsor the construction of a kennel in the name of their loved one.
Animal Nepal has launched a Sponsor a Dog project to raise local funds for the spaying of female stray dogs.
Progress Report
Brick kilns dot the Kathmandu Valley like solitary oaks, often on fire, belching black smoke as they have done for decades. But on closer inspection one can see an unsettling scene much more serious then the environmental catastrophe these necessary but ugly brick pits pose...a picture of startling torture and abuse emerges...In Lalitpur District some 500 donkeys are employed in brick kilns. Their lives are miserable and short.
A few facts:
Anyone will pays a visit to one of the 500 brick kilns in Kathmandu Valley will agree. In the vicinity of the kiln, hundreds of people toll under a glaring sun. Among them one finds countless children. In addition to the child labor story that predominates these brick pits, is the untold story of donkeys and bricks, as these domestic animals are the backbone of brick production, working day and night hauling and heaving the heavy loads of materials that eventually become the foundation of the ever-expanding metropolis of Kathmandu.
There are no laws that govern their treatment, and no labor party to represent their needs. Animal Nepal, unable to witness the immense suffering of working donkeys and children, aims to introduce a participatory programme addressing both the needs
of child labourers and working donkeys.
Donkey Clinics Outreach Programme Objective: Improving the lives of working donkeys in Lalitpur brick kilns. Immediate objectives: To improve the conditions of working donkeys, to educate donkey owners, handlers and kiln owners and to lobby for better conditions for working animals Target group: 400-500 donkeys employed in Lalitpur brick kilns Duration: Two seasons (December 2008-May 2009 & December 2009-May 2010) The programme aims at evaluating the following strategies:
In addition, see the newly released video documentary![]()
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