The population of stray dogs in Thimphu Thormde has reduced to about 4000 now from 6000 in 2012.
To bring the number further down, a month long mass sterilization and vaccination program is underway at the Dzongkhag Veterinary hospital in Ramtokto.
Thimphu Thrompon, Kinlay Dorjee said they are looking at sterilizing as many stray dogs as possible. They are calling for residents’ support, especially to, catch the dogs.
“The challenge is in catching the dogs. Dogs have that instinct. When they see our vehicle coming they run away making it difficult to achieve whatever we desire,” said Kinlay Dorjee.
Unlike other dzonkhags, no rabies outbreak has been reported in the city.
The Department of Livestock is targeting to complete sterilizing and vaccinating 70 percent of the stray dog population in Thimphu Thromde by the end of this month. They have covered 60 percent.
“After one month we will again re-assess and go back to the field and we will try to do a count of total dog that has been sterilized,” said Department of Livestock’s Programme Director, Dr. Kinzang Dukpa.
Around 70,000 dogs, across the country, have been sterilized and vaccinated since the National Dog Population Management and Rabies Control Project was initiated in 2009.
