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DOGS

Mom and Pup 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.

Rescued 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:

Set up a help line
Provide preventive health care within the community
Educate Community Animal Treatment (CAT) volunteers in preventive health care and first aid
Implement pilot community based Animal Birth Control/Anti Rabies programmes
Promote stray dog adoption

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

January 2009 – Launch of Adopt a Nepali Dog campaign (see www.adoptanepalidog.info)
February 2009 – Apply for land from Chobar based Adinath Forest Committee.
March 2009 – Finalise designs with architect and engineer
April 2009 – Launch of a 2,5 day Community Animal Treatment (CAT) Volunteer training. Twelve participants are trained in First Aid and community based animal welfare activities.
May 2009 – Signing of agreement between Animal Nepal and Adinath Forest Committee for land to build a Animal Birth Control and rehabilitation centre.
May 2009 – Puja (religious ritual) performed to prepare the land for construction.
June 2009 – Construction of kennels, office, operation theatre and guard room.

DONKEYS

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.

Background

A few facts:

500 brick kilns
60,000 child workers, 500-800 donkeys
Donkeys are underfed, overloaded, overworked • 85% of donkeys have open wounds
Most donkeys suffer from dehydration and malnutrition
Pregnant donkeys work up to the day of delivery and are given only a few days to recover
Newborn foals risk disease and death
Any donkey that is injured and unwanted is left to fend for itself
Every year around 25 donkeys die from exhaustion Nepal’s brick kilns have once been called a ‘medieval hellhole’.

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 Hunger of child labourers and working donkeys.

Project Profile

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:

Complete Baseline Survey
Organise regular donkey clinics
Organise regular education sessions for donkey owners, handlers and kiln owners
Lobby for passing of Animal Welfare Act and rules for working animals
Create awareness among the general public
Develop Donkey Sanctuary to rehabilitate sick and injured donkeys

Links to more info:

Online Documents for more info:

Progress Report

December 2008 – Launch of donkey clinics run by volunteers
February 2009 – Completion of Baseline Surveys
March 2009 – Official lunch of Donkey Clinics Outreach Programme
April 2009 – Start of regular education sessions for donkey owners and handlers. Introduction of improved harnesses and educational displays
May 2009 – Donkeys leave for Nepalgunj. A few injured and weak donkeys are left behind. Animal Nepal Signs agreement for 6 ropani land to build Donkey Sanctuary
Mid May 2009 - Representatives from Animal Nepal and AWNN hand over petition for better conditions of working donkeys signed by over 1000 concerned citizens from around the world to the Ministry of Agriculture
June 2009 – Construction of Donkey Sanctuary commences; survey of working donkeys in Banke District where donkeys remain in between brick seasons

In addition, see the newly released video documentary

Projects

Ongoing AN Projects