In late 1990’s, the problem of rabies in the community of Mcleod Ganj and Lower Dharamsala has been an urgent concern. Tibetan Welfare Office (TWO) and several individuals have attempted to address the issue with the limited vaccination programmes but it had no any lasting effects to the health of the community.

Adding to this, the local administration is putting on a primitive method for instant solution to eliminate the rabid dogs by poisoning and brutally public beating which does not fully address the core problems, and the rabid dogs were dying amid severe pain in very pathetic situation.

In light of providing a real benefit to the dogs and the community in the long term, TWO in conjunction with the Health Department and the Tibet Charity had organized a major dog sterilization and anti-rabies programme in Dharamsala in 2003. A similar programme was also organized in 2004.  Altogether, we are able to give anti-rabies vaccination to 800 stray dogs and sterilized 240 stray dogs.

Since 2003, TWO has been feeding all the stray dogs thrice a week, particularly the pregnant and injured stray dogs. The main goal of feeding stray dogs is to reduce the exposure of diseases to dogs, and the public. This shall further help identify the injured dogs and target the dog packs during anti-rabies and sterilization programme in the future.