“Sterilisation, vaccination and compassion remain the only sustainable way forward in addressing issues linked to stray dogs,” stated Dipika Khadka, Nursing Officer at Chautara Provincial Hospital, Sindhupalchowk, Nepal, and animal welfare supporter based in Kathmandu, while sharing her views with The Hitavada. Khadka pointed out that increasing dog bite cases and rabies deaths have placed civic authorities under pressure, leading to proposals for large-scale shelters. However, she cautioned that confinement often results in overcrowding, poor management, and cruelty, without solving the underlying problem.

 

“Dogs turn aggressive when they are neglected or mistreated. Just because they cannot speak does not mean they deserve punishment,” she said, emphasising that rabies responsible for nearly 20,000 deaths annually in India is preventable through systematic vaccination and sterilisation rather than segregation. Citing global health guidance, Khadka noted, “The World Health Organisation has made it clear that culling or confinement does not end rabies. Vaccination and sterilisation are the only sustainable solutions.” She also underlined international examples where humane methods have shown measurable success. “Bhutan and Sri Lanka reduced rabies significantly through sterilisation and vaccination drives. Turkey protects stray dogs by law while ensuring care and vaccination, while Nepal, Portugal, and Romania have adopted the Trap-Neuter-Return model effectively.

 

These approaches prove that public safety and compassion can go hand in hand,” she said. Khadka explained the “vacuum effect,” wherein removal of dogs from one locality only invites others to take their place. Community involvement in feeding, trust-building, and ensuring vaccinations, she stressed, helps create a balance. “If even five-star hotels can adapt and coexist peacefully with strays on their premises, neighbourhoods too can manage with dignity and compassion,” she remarked. She said, “Stray dogs are not threats but victims of human neglect. Humane measures, rooted in responsibility and compassion, will determine the kind of society we pass on to next generation.”