Despite years of sterilisation campaigns and vaccination drives, stray dogs continue to roam the streets and outskirts of Paro. Livestock officials now say the problem is no longer just uncontrolled breeding, but rising cases of pet abandonment.
The dogs, at first glance, appear to be typical strays. But officials say many of them may once have had owners.
Paro was once recorded for the highest dog density in the country, prompting intensified interventions over the years.
According to the Paro Livestock Sector, 1,748 dogs were sterilised in 2022 under the national dog population management programme. And 425 stray dogs were sterilised between 2024 and 2025.
Yet, free-roaming dogs remain a concern.
Paro’s Veterinary Officer, Phuntsho Wangdi says a growing contributor is irresponsible pet ownership.
He said, “We are increasingly seeing abandoned pets among the dogs that end up on the streets. Some of these dogs are not sterilised. Once they are left to roam freely, they breed, and that directly undermines the progress made through sterilisation campaigns.”
Officials say abandonment often occurs when families relocate or go abroad, when pets grow old or develop disabilities and when owners are unable to manage unexpected litters.
Phuntsho Wangdi said, “Pet ownership comes with responsibility. There are clear expectations that owners must ensure their dogs are sterilised, vaccinated, and not allowed to roam freely. Abandoning a pet is not only irresponsible but also contributes to public health and safety concerns.”
But the consequences go beyond urban nuisance.
The veterinary officer said, “We have documented incidents where such dogs formed packs and attacked livestock, including yaks in highland areas. When domestic dogs become feral, their behaviour changes. They may begin to hunt or scavenge more aggressively.”
The Zeus Nakulu Dog Sanctuary, one of the country’s largest dog shelters, are also rescuing more pet dogs from the streets.
Thinley Norbu, the founder of the Zeus Nakulu Dog Sanctuary said, “Mostly it was pet dogs, abandoned by owners. They are not taking care of the pets. The livestock officials created a lot of awareness, but pet owners are still not aware of it. They are not taking their pets for sterilisation or microchipping them. Hence, it is very difficult to find the owners or to penalise them.”
He said it is going to be difficult to control the dog population in the country if the trend continues.
For now, as Paro works to maintain gains made through thousands of sterilisations, officials say the focus must shift to accountability because behind many of the so-called strays may be a story that began inside someone’s home.
Karma Samten Wangda/Devika Pradhan
Edited by Tandin Phuntsho
