The Kathmandu Animal Treatment Centre (KAT) has sterilised 5,700 stray bitches in the last

four years, forestalling the birth of an estimated 55,000 puppies. KAT has also been administering anti-rabies vaccines and has rescued 1,400 sick or injured dogs from streets in the capital city. This year, with the help of Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC), KAT aims to sterilise another 1,500 bitches and treat 500 dogs. Founded by British national Jan Salter, the centre has played an important role in ridding the Valley of stray dogs in a humane and sustainable manner.

Only a few years ago, the Kathmandu metropolitan authorities used to mass poison the stray dogs in its bid to rid Kathmandu of these uncared for animals. The practice was grossly inhumane and unhygienic as the corpses were left to rot for days before KMC authorities came around to collect them. Salter’s method of neutering the dogs, in this respect, is a huge improvement on the earlier cruel method of poisoning. It is heartening to see personalities from all walks of life in Nepal supporting Salter in his good cause. The society should extend to Salter every kind of help so that the population of stray dogs in Kathmandu is kept in check and the remaining canines get the care and respect they deserve as living beings.