History and Overview of Street Dog Care
Street Dog Care (SDC) was founded in February 2009 by Andrea Bringmann. With the motto, “Let us work together to give all beings a better life”.
SDC functions to provide medical care, vaccinations, rehabilitation, and sterilization to Boudha’s street dog population. Working primarily within the Boudha community, SDC has provided service to approximately 4.000 dogs since its founding. SDC provides medical care directly on the streets, and runs a weekly Free Health Care Camp at the Boudha Stupa. Boudha community members, as well as volunteers and tourists, bring street dogs for on-site medical care and treatment.
Animals in need of long-term care, will be assisted during the week or cared for at the SDC Centre. The Centre is located about 6 km away from Boudha in a village called Changu Narayan. The Centre houses up to 40 dogs.
Over the last 10 years SDC has become an integral part of Boudha’s vibrant community. Most community members know and appreciate SDC’s service, opportunities for community participations has been created. Often people from Boudhanath assist and volunteer during the weekly Free Health Camp. Boudha is mainly a Buddhist community and SDC staff and many volunteers are also practicing Buddhists. SDC is knowledgeable and respectful of the Buddhist faith and sensitive to Boudha’s culture, respecting the local customs. SDC provides animal welfare work in alignment with the values and doctrines of the community, a significant aspect in creating community support and appreciation.
SDC, essentially, has made Boudha’s street dogs family members. Staff and volunteers, as well as many people from Boudha, know the street dogs by name. In addition to offering medical care, SDC ensures Boudhas dogs to maintain a good quality of life. Providing water, food, blankets, sweaters, baths, hugs, love, and other necessities that ensure the dogs are happy comfortable and well socialised.
SDC started with a Free Health Camp on a Saturday at the Stupa, grew to include the first Dog Centre located in Paika (near Kopan) and housing up to 10 dogs, the second Dog Centre was located in Boudha and was housing up to 35 dogs. The current Dog Centre in Changu Narayan can house up to 40 dogs.
SDC has grown entirely by the donations of generous donors. SDC receives no government support.
SDC’s mission is to provide care for the dogs who are currently suffering. Focused on ending the suffering of street dogs in cases of broken bones, tumors, skin problems etc. Handicapped, blind or old dogs can find a permanent place at the Dog Centre.
Everybody is getting a chance to live and we are not euthanising any animal, as we are a Non-Killing Centre.
Impact of Street Dog Care’s work
Boudha street dogs are now healthier due to SDC’s work. Furthermore, SDC’s work has changed Boudha’s attitude towards street dogs. Since SDC’s annual rabies camp, weekly Free Health Camps, and the establishment of the Dog Centre the dogs are no longer a threat to the community. Boudha now views the dogs as “community” dogs and is more relaxed about them, as the risk of catching a disease from a street dog decreased. Many households and shop owners feed the street dogs and are friendly to them. The attitude of dogs as a menace and fear of dogs is decreasing.