While in Kathmandu I took the opportunity to travel up to KAT - Kathmandu Animal Treatment Centre in the northern part of the city
It was started 12 years ago by an English women called Jan Salter and since then they have neutered thousands of dogs. Importantly they are helping to change attitudes. The Nepali government have stopped poisoning dogs in areas where KAT are active - although a countrywide ban would be preferable (as in Myanmar they use strychnine laced meat to perform this terrible act)
Through fund raising KAT have bought vehicles to collect street dogs or as they prefer to call them community dogs and they also have a permanent vet which is a real bonus
Through fund raising KAT have bought vehicles to collect street dogs or as they prefer to call them community dogs and they also have a permanent vet which is a real bonus
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| Treatment Room |
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| Operating Room |
Thanks to Rose and the team for letting me look around and I wish them well in their future endeavours.
Earthquake update - fortunately everyone human and canine at KAT centre is fine and the premises were undamaged
Earthquake update - fortunately everyone human and canine at KAT centre is fine and the premises were undamaged
I also made a visit to a veterinary charity called HART on the outskirts of Pokhara
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| The HART centre in Pokhara |
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| Kennel for recovering dogs |
Normally their main focus is neutering and rabies vaccination but all that had been put on hold because of the recent earthquake...
They post updates of the amazing work have been doing in remote villages on Facebook
Their plan over the next few weeks is to help injured animals in remote areas. Buffalo are one of the major livestock animals kept - many had died outright but there were injuries that needed treatment - minor limb fractures, soft tissue traumas and a lot of fly strike.
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| Dr Kanu with a grateful local woman in an earthquake zone |
Their job was made difficult by poor road conditions and in many cases no roads - just stony paths to remote small holdings - having to take all their gear down by foot. Often they would be told there was another injured animal further down the path and then another - an exhausting and laborious process...
To their immense credit they arrived back in Pokhara only to stock up and we're heading out to another remote area to help. Initially when they arrive there can be some disappointment that they are there to help the animals as people are desperately in need of help themselves - some food and water for the people smooths the path and once people realise helping the animals helps them they are accepted.
In many cases a buffalo is all they have left having lost their possessions and loved ones. Once the animal relief effort is over HART will go back to their main focus - neutering and rabies control. Rabies cases in both humans and dogs have dropped significantly since mass vaccination programmes have started.
In many cases a buffalo is all they have left having lost their possessions and loved ones. Once the animal relief effort is over HART will go back to their main focus - neutering and rabies control. Rabies cases in both humans and dogs have dropped significantly since mass vaccination programmes have started.
Thank you to project manager Kangeshwaar (call me K!), vet Dr Kanu and the rest of the team for letting me take a look round at this busy time.
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