It has been roughly estimated that there are somewhere between 30, 000 and 36, 000 street dogs pitifully crawling across Kathmandu (1 per 33 inhabitants). Irresponsible adoptions, Animal cruelty, Health threats…This increasing population of homeless pets comes with a list of issues, not doing any favors to Kathmandu’s public image and development intentions.
“They are everywhere!”
As much as it is impossible to walk across the city of Dublin, Ireland, without passing in front of a Pub, it is hopeless to imagine going out for a walk in the Nepali capital without hearing a painful bark, feeling a begging muzzle on your calf, or witnessing the empty fury shell of a dog sleeping on a pile of garbage, or pursuing a glimpse of sunshine in the middle of a bumpy road, offering him a small warmth embrace in a life of cold dark loneliness and abandonment.
They are no official survey that can perfectly estimate an unwanted tramp community. Only a few NGO’s and City Councils give it a go, by gathering the very few data that can be obtained on something people don’t care about or try to hide. This brings us to the following very approximate estimation :
“The Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) 2016 data shows there are around 30, 000 stray dogs in Kathmandu. Veterinary doctors say the number has increased over the last two years because the government has not taken any step to control stray dog’s population explosion.” (Kathmandu post)
Biology and observation are the best shot in forecasting the evolution of these increasing numbers. A dog can have up to 5 puppies 6 times of year in the first half of her life. Wich would hypothetically (if half of the population is females and they all regularly carried puppies) annually multiply their community by 15. However, it is observed on the streets, usually, no more than one or two puppies survive, and themselves bearly make it to the reproductive age.
From 2014 to 2016, they went from being 24, 000 to 30, 000. That is a 20% increase in only two years.
Reproduction among street and stray dogs are not the only factors conducting fast population growth.
Many citizens take pride in purchasing and showing off a cute little puppy adopted in breeding centers outside the city. Once the adorable baby becomes an inconvenient bigger creature, most irresponsible owners lose interest in them, as they only see an occupied space and a financial burden in what turned out to be just a temporary toy to show off. So, they kick them out in the streets.
Thus, is the difference between Stray dogs (still have or had an owner but no home) and a street dog (born and self-raised in the streets). The two composite of the more than 30, 000 population.
“We had a dog. He was so cute. But then one day he grew up and we had to abandon him” A young student admitted to me during my investigation.
“It’s not just a moral issue, it’s also a health issue”
No less than 200 people die annually from rabies and other diseases caused by direct contact with street dogs…
Hospitals in Kathmandhu report 150 cases of dogs bites every day followed by 200 rabies prevention shots.
Attacks or accidental bites are a direct form of health threat, but not the only ones. Indirect officious diseases find their way from the rotten remains of dead dogs to the nation uncautious human bodies. Since the death of a street-dog affects the environment. Locals can be witnessed throwing the dogs in the river and the carcasses poison the community water supply.
And death is not always natural. A lot of locals have been seen or admit leaving poisonous food on the streets as deadly bait. Problem is, dogs are not the only ones starving in the streets of Kathmandu. Humans, and among them, young orphaned children fall in the trap and suffer a slow and atrocious death (9 hours of convulsions).
“Not everybody hates dogs in Nepal”
Every Saturday, between 10 a.m and 1 p.m, visitors of the sacred and famous Bouddha Stupa in Kathmandu, will see this unusual scenery: A free field care center for Steet, Stray and Poor owners dogs.
Here, under a colorful umbrella, the animals can be cleaned and vaccinated by volunteers. Thanks to tourists and locals who bring the animals(even if they have no connection with it) to be treated by expert hands. A little healthy and relaxing break of their hard surviving conditions followed up by a check-up before heading back to their street life.
I tried to get in contact with many of these NGO’s, to give them a chance to explain their actions and share with us their love of animals, but the only answer I was given was the following statement :
“We have this core philosophy of not participating in any kind of interview or promotions. It can create pride among our staff or for the NGO itself, which in the long term will damage our work. Fame always distracts and we don’t do our work for being recognized but to help the needy street dogs.”
Apparently, it is a commonly shared philosophy of being humble shared between the different associations.
Lauren Rathvon, a volunteer tourist accepted to share with us her experience and her thoughts on the matter:
“As the owner of a tour company who travels all year long, sometimes the only consistent thing around the world is the sweetness of street dogs and their uphill battle to survive. I feel drawn to help dogs because they were domesticated tens of thousands of years ago to be our partners, to love and trust humans; to turn our back on them now is shameful.”
“The dogs of Kathmandu captured my heart the first time I visited Nepal in 2013, with a particularly trusting spirit despite their difficult lives. Street dogs make excellent company no matter where you are in the world, no language or cultural barriers, just full presence and affection. I can spend hours at Boudhanath Stupa, just sitting with my dogs.”
“Luckily, Kathmandu has many wonderful organizations that are helping dogs, and everyone has been willing to share what they know, from cooking for the dogs to basic first aid. While spending time with the dogs and the generous people who work for these dog organizations, I’ve learned about the ailments most common to the dogs and what you can do to help. I even learned how to make a dog wheelchair for paralyzed dogs! I can now take these skills to other parts of the world and help street dogs everywhere.”
Finally, “Dogs are not the only animal part of the problem…”
Cats are as numerous but can’t be seen for a simple reason: They are hiding from the dogs.
Their situation is a bit more complicated and ignored. Even dogs are worshiped once a year, but cats are just seen as pests.
Cattles are a danger for the traffic and are the cause of many motorbike accident.
Leaving them in the street eating garbage, it’s a strange way to treat the most sacred animal of the Hindu religion.
200 are rescued every year but their rightful owners can’t be found.
