Kathmandu, Oct 10: The Kathmandu Metropolitan City has recently initiated a program aimed at managing the city’s canine population and safeguarding against rabies.

Commencing today, the campaign is commencing in wards 4, 7, 9, 11, 14, 15, 25, 31, and 32. The objective is to permanently sterilize 5,800 dogs and provide rabies vaccinations to 16,000 dogs within the upcoming three months, as outlined by Dr. Avadhesh Jha, Chief of the Agriculture Department of the Kathmandu Metropolitan City.

Despite previous attempts in previous years, the results were less than satisfactory. This year, a new strategy has been devised to enhance the effectiveness of the campaign, according to Dr. Jha.

This initiative involves collaboration with nine distinct organizations and has assembled a team of 50 individuals for implementation. Their mission is to sterilize 5,800 dogs and manage the dog population, with a particular focus on community dogs, which tend to display more aggressive behavior during the evening and nighttime hours.

Sterilization serves as a vital and efficient method for regulating the dog population. It helps curb unchecked breeding and reduces the presence of stray dogs, some of which may become potentially aggressive when roaming the streets. The primary goal of this campaign is to effectively manage the dog population, which will subsequently address a range of associated issues.

Dr. Jha underscored, stating, “The primary aim of community dog management is controlling the dog population, which will alleviate many related problems.”

Presently, it is estimated that around 22,000 community dogs inhabit Kathmandu. These dogs frequently exhibit heightened aggression during the evening and nighttime, giving rise to safety concerns.

This campaign also tackles the problem of cruelty towards animals. In accordance with Nepal’s Muluki Ain (Muluki Criminal Code) 2074, individuals who inflict harm on animals through physical abuse, harmful substances, or other means may face imprisonment or fines.

In conclusion, the Kathmandu Metropolitan City has launched an initiative to manage the dog population and prevent rabies by sterilizing and vaccinating community dogs. This collaborative effort with various organizations seeks to enhance the safety of the city’s residents while promoting responsible pet ownership.