NP: Survey shows: 65% of Kathmandu's pet dogs chained for life

[Guest guest]

Animal Welfare Network Nepal launches ‘Dogs of Kathmandu Valley’

 

*65 percent of Kathmandu’s pet dog chained for life*

 

 

 

Kathmandu, October 16, 2009 – The Animal Welfare Network Nepal today

released *‘Dogs in Kathmandu Valley– Man’s best friend betrayed’.* The

report shows that people’s awareness regarding dog care remains low and that

Kathmandu’s pet and stray dogs continue to live a life of neglect and abuse.

 

 

 

 

The report was launched on the occasion of Kukur Tihar or Dog Worshipping

Day. According to the network the report findings call for immediate

intervention by government authorities, civil society and the public at

large.

 

 

 

‘Today we ask everyone to take a vow to treat dogs humanely, not just on

Kukur Tihar, but 365 days a year,’ said Animal Nepal Director Pramada Shah.

‘The government must take immediate action to address the problems of pet

and stray dogs. However, we as citizens should not wait – all of us in our

own way can do something to alleviate the suffering of man’s best friend.

Dogs look up to us; we should not let them down.’

 

 

 

The survey shows that dog owners tend to treat their pets as objects that

they OWN rather than living creatures with a right to some freedom and a

good life. Stray dogs are considered a problem and are at best ignored. They

hardly ever receive professional medical care.

 

 

 

A shocking 64% of pets are kept on a chain, of whom 36% on a very short one.

[1]<http://mail.google.com/mail/?ui=2 & view=js & name=js & ver=lRH7ajoXwnE.en. & am=!t-\

TmIKZsnsrpZfngsTT2coK86PFS5plZV0jasP8o4t8E#_ftn1>Pets

die at a young age, possibly due to general neglect and a lack of

awareness on canine health. Only 17% receive some kind of family planning.

This is a great cause for concern as offspring tend to be abandoned on the

street, further increasing the stray dog population.

 

 

 

The prospects of stray dogs continue to look bleak. 99% of interviewees

consider strays as a problem, mostly due to noise pollution and fear of

rabies. However, there are positive developments too. Most interviewees opt

for the right solutions: the majority propagates humane population control

by the government, while some 30% demand education to increase awareness.

Others call for increased NGO intervention or stricter laws. A quarter of

interviewees seek help when they come across an injured or sick stray dog.

 

 

 

The network in 2008 carried out a survey among conducted a survey into

people’s perceptions of pet and stray animals in Kathmandu Valley. Six

different teams interviewed a total of 656 individuals (297 pet owners and

359 community members) in Kathmandu, Lalitpur and Bhaktapur District.

 

* *

 

*To read the full report go to:*

http://www.animalnepal.org/reports.htm#research

 

* *

 

*For more information about this press release contact:*

 

Pramada Shah & Lucia de Vries, animalnepal, 98510-41103

 

* *

 

------------------------------

 

*[1]*<http://mail.google.com/mail/?ui=2 & view=js & name=js & ver=lRH7ajoXwnE.en. & am=!\

t-TmIKZsnsrpZfngsTT2coK86PFS5plZV0jasP8o4t8E#_ftnref1>

* **Dogs are naturally social beings that thrive on interaction with human

beings and other animals. A dog kept chained in one spot for a long time

suffers immense psychological damage. Chained dogs are three times likely to

bite humans, including their owners. *

 

 

 

 

--

Lucia de Vries

Freelance Journalist

Nepal - Netherlands

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

Whether it is the Nepali worshipping the dog on Kukur Tihar or the Indian

worshipping Ganesha throughout the year, why do we want to see our Gods in

Chains?

 

On this auspicious day of Deepavalli, my greetings to all at AAPN,

especially Dr. John Wedderburn.

 

May all that has life be free from suffering.

 

S. Chinny Krishna

 

 

> Animal Welfare Network Nepal launches ‘Dogs of Kathmandu Valley’

>

> *65 percent of Kathmandu’s pet dog chained for life*

>

>

>

> Kathmandu, October 16, 2009 – The Animal Welfare Network Nepal today

> released *‘Dogs in Kathmandu Valley– Man’s best friend betrayed’.* The

> report shows that people’s awareness regarding dog care remains low and

> that

> Kathmandu’s pet and stray dogs continue to live a life of neglect and

> abuse.

>

>

>

>

> The report was launched on the occasion of Kukur Tihar or Dog Worshipping

> Day. According to the network the report findings call for immediate

> intervention by government authorities, civil society and the public at

> large.

>

>

>

> ‘Today we ask everyone to take a vow to treat dogs humanely, not just on

> Kukur Tihar, but 365 days a year,’ said Animal Nepal Director Pramada

> Shah.

> ‘The government must take immediate action to address the problems of pet

> and stray dogs. However, we as citizens should not wait – all of us in our

> own way can do something to alleviate the suffering of man’s best friend.

> Dogs look up to us; we should not let them down.’

>

>

>

> The survey shows that dog owners tend to treat their pets as objects that

> they OWN rather than living creatures with a right to some freedom and a

> good life. Stray dogs are considered a problem and are at best ignored.

> They

> hardly ever receive professional medical care.

>

>

>

> A shocking 64% of pets are kept on a chain, of whom 36% on a very short

> one.

>

[1]<http://mail.google.com/mail/?ui=2 & view=js & name=js & ver=lRH7ajoXwnE.en. & am=!t-\

TmIKZsnsrpZfngsTT2coK86PFS5plZV0jasP8o4t8E#_ftn1>Pets

> die at a young age, possibly due to general neglect and a lack of

> awareness on canine health. Only 17% receive some kind of family planning.

> This is a great cause for concern as offspring tend to be abandoned on the

> street, further increasing the stray dog population.

>

>

>

> The prospects of stray dogs continue to look bleak. 99% of interviewees

> consider strays as a problem, mostly due to noise pollution and fear of

> rabies. However, there are positive developments too. Most interviewees

> opt

> for the right solutions: the majority propagates humane population control

> by the government, while some 30% demand education to increase awareness.

> Others call for increased NGO intervention or stricter laws. A quarter of

> interviewees seek help when they come across an injured or sick stray dog.

>

>

>

> The network in 2008 carried out a survey among conducted a survey into

> people’s perceptions of pet and stray animals in Kathmandu Valley. Six

> different teams interviewed a total of 656 individuals (297 pet owners and

> 359 community members) in Kathmandu, Lalitpur and Bhaktapur District.

>

> * *

>

> *To read the full report go to:*

> http://www.animalnepal.org/reports.htm#research

>

> * *

>

> *For more information about this press release contact:*

>

> Pramada Shah & Lucia de Vries, animalnepal, 98510-41103

>

> * *

>

> ------------------------------

>

>

*[1]*<http://mail.google.com/mail/?ui=2 & view=js & name=js & ver=lRH7ajoXwnE.en. & am=!\

t-TmIKZsnsrpZfngsTT2coK86PFS5plZV0jasP8o4t8E#_ftnref1>

> * **Dogs are naturally social beings that thrive on interaction with human

> beings and other animals. A dog kept chained in one spot for a long time

> suffers immense psychological damage. Chained dogs are three times likely

> to

> bite humans, including their owners. *

>

>

>

>

> --

> Lucia de Vries

> Freelance Journalist

> Nepal - Netherlands

>

>

>