Love for dogs is somewhat inherited. Humans have probably evolved to develop a special kind of gene that makes them predisposed to love dogs. And as canines evolved, dogs probably have bonding with humans in their DNA too. That could be why I have always felt an instant connection with a dog, I am sure I was born with it. I also feel that instant connection with fellow dog lovers than with anyone else. I was born in a family where dogs were tremendously loved and cared for. My mother’s two biggest gifts to me are a) a kind heart, and b) love for all animals, especially dogs. Read Also: <a href="https://nepalitimes.com/here-now/kathmandu-s-street-smart-dogs">Kathmandu’s street-smart dogs</a>, Sonia Awale I grew up hearing her story of the time when I was 6 and was bitten near my eye by my uncle’s dog. I needed to get stitches. Even today, she says she fails to understand why that never stopped me from loving dogs, and why I was never scared of them even after that traumatic event in my childhood. As a child, my favourite memory is going out for walks with my mother when she fed biscuits to stray pups along the way. We knew the dogs all along the alleys outside the house. It is a practice I have inherited. As soon as we walked out of the house, we would be trailed by neighbourhood dogs wagging their tails wildly in anticipation. They used to follow up right to the little corner store. And what grateful creatures God of Dogs created, the love and loyalty they show in exchange of one small treat or a little rub on their head.  <figure><img src="https://publisher-publish.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/pb-nepalitimes/swp/asv65r/media/20231112031136_7c8cc7593d5acf3f399ddd31b1cecb2f69b6b13093459444fcc3efe57c415c93.jpg" data-media-id="editor_1" data-image-id="20231112031136_7c8cc7593d5acf3f399ddd31b1cecb2f69b6b13093459444fcc3efe57c415c93" data-rendition-name="original" width="2048" height="1366" loading="lazy" alt="must love dogs"><figcaption>PHOTO: SUMAN NEPALI</figcaption></figure>  So, when I say I love dogs, I am a bit biased. I have more affection for the strays on the road, the breed now recognised as a distinct species and which Nepalis fondly call bhusyaha kukur. My love for stray mutts and pups has led me to rescue a few, my four-legged girls. Many of these furry friends have since then found their way to my heart. Some are abandoned, others are community canines whom I feed snacks. Read Also: <a href="https://nepalitimes.com/multimedia/kukur-biralo-tihar">Kukur Biralo Tihar</a>, Monika Deupala Each of them has a unique personality, each has a unique story to tell. Beyond their limitations of not having a home, they all enjoy and value their life in the streets and between struggling to protect their territory to finding food, they are also surrounded by humans who love them, feed them, give them a belly rub. And it is heart-warming to see them walking around proudly with marigold garlands, foreheads red with vermilion on <a href="https://nepalitimes.com/multimedia/kukur-biralo-tihar">Kukur Tihar</a> (which this year falls on 12 November). This festival, which is unique to Nepal, is an equaliser because it forces us to embrace purebred pets at home equally with the strays outside. The sad part, of course, is that the dogs we worship in the morning are scared out of their wits in the evening when the firecrackers start going off. Many strays and pets are so spooked they run away and are lost during Tihar. We have to be more mindful of this. Read also: <a href="https://www.nepalitimes.com/latest/microchipping-nepals-dogs/">Microchipping Nepal’s dogs</a>, Aria Shree Parasai From living in the moment to loving selflessly to never complaining to never stopping to being happy, we humans have a lot to learn from dogs. My hope is that we all continue this celebration all year round, that we find ways to rehome stray dogs, that we stop buying and start rescuing. For someone who has rescued dogs myself, I can tell you there is nothing as liberating as this act of humanity. And the rewards that you receive in return is immeasurable. We can all take action by not buying another dog for our home, and who knows, the next rescue you make is the one who will rescue you.

original

674x448

610x380

500x500

400x266

400x240

400x203

301x200

Must love dogs

Every Day Is Dog Day

<figure><img width="718" height="525" src="https://superdesk-pro-c.s3.amazonaws.com/sd-nepalitimes/20221110111124/636cd1cc9c7e80680e08f8d7jpeg.jpg" alt=""/><figcaption>This photo of a community dog with an image of Prime Minister Oli went viral on social media. She was dragged around town by the All Nepal Free Student Union to protest the prime minister’s dissolution of the House. Photo: SOCIAL MEDIA</figcaption></figure>Among the many street protests that followed Prime Minister K P Oli’s <a href="https://www.nepalitimes.com/latest/nepalis-outraged-by-pm-oli-move/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">dissolution of the Lower House</a> on 20 December was one by students in Charikot in which a she-dog bearing the portrait of the prime minister was dragged around town. The photo of the dog went viral on social media, drawing widespread anger and criticism. When animal rights activist Pramada Shah saw the images on the internet, she reacted instantly: “We have to rescue this dog.” Her team from Animal Nepal quickly traced the student leaders involved in the procession through Facebook posts, and spoke to them at length on the phone about the need to <a href="https://www.nepalitimes.com/editorial/in-an-animal-farm/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">protect animals</a>, and not punish them for human actions. <figure><img width="1500" height="1125" src="https://superdesk-pro-c.s3.amazonaws.com/sd-nepalitimes/20221110111124/636cd1cf9c7e80680e08f8d8jpeg.jpg" alt=""><figcaption>Activists from Animal Nepal try to approach a traumatised Chari in Charikot last week. Photos: Animal Nepal</figcaption></figure>The debate went back and forth. The student leaders, Roshan Khadka and Bharat Shrestha first alleged that the opposition had taken pictures to make them look bad and that they had “only dragged the dog for like ten metres”. Then they argued that the idea was to show that <a href="https://archive.nepalitimes.com/article/Nepali-Times-Buzz/woof-of-fresh-air-for-street-dogs-in-kathmandu,4132" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">community dogs</a> are more faithful than the prime minister.“The reasoning was quite contradictory to the act of cruelty, but we were eventually able to seek their support in helping us rescue the dog,” explains Shah. “I said you can’t do this because you are responsible student leaders. They’ve committed to never hurt animals again for political reasons.”Nirmal Sharma, a lawyer who works with Animal Nepal arrived in Dolakha with his colleagues. It took them a while to find the dog who had gone into hiding after the traumatic experience. Students Khadka and Shrestha helped trace the dog, and she was brought to Kathmandu.  Animal Nepal named her ‘Chari’ after Charikot, and she was checked for wounds and diseases. Says Sharma: “She’s fine and now she lives at our office with other dogs.”Chari has started making friends with other mutts who live at the rescue home, but she is terrified of the leash. Says Shah: “Leashes scare her because she was traumatised. She’s a quiet dog, really scared and timid. Basically, they used an animal to give out a political message.” <figure><img width="1225" height="816" src="https://superdesk-pro-c.s3.amazonaws.com/sd-nepalitimes/20221110111124/636cd1d29c7e80680e08f8d9jpeg.jpg" alt=""><figcaption>Chari in her new home in Kathmandu, with friend Chhampi.</figcaption></figure>Shah finds it concerning that Nepali language is rife with analogies that equate negative human attributes to animals. “It’s something we need to get over. We got rid of gender bias in language, we need to make our language sensitive towards animals, too,” she says.Nepal’s laws provide animals little or no protection. The Muluki Ain enshrined protection of cows and bulls for religious reasons. “The Muluki Aparadh Samhita 2074, has a list of dos and don’ts in terms of crimes related to animals, but they have to be hinged on harm caused to humans to be punishable. Evidence is low when it comes to animals, so it’s usually hard to push for laws,” says Sharma.Pramada Shah believes <a href="https://www.nepalitimes.com/banner/bhaktapurs-dog-catchers/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">animals</a> need legal protection, and her organisation has been pushing for it. She adds, “Once the law comes through maybe our animals will be treated better– but there’s a lot of work to do. But everything is dependent on politics.”Indeed, it was the same politics that made Chari a part of a street demonstration, and one that gave her nationwide fame at the cost of trauma.

Saving Chari

mainNavigation

footerNavigation

opinionSubnav

community-dogs

Must love dogs

Every Day Is Dog Day

Saving Chari