Disaster Response
Rapid response makes a difference for community dogs amidst Nepal’s crisis
Rapid response makes a difference for community dogs amidst Nepal’s crisis
17 November 2025
On 8 September 2025, the protest in Kathmandu turned into an unexpected crisis. As government offices and infrastructure were engulfed in chaos, ripple effects reached some of the most vulnerable—including the community’s dogs.
These animals, many of them free roaming but cared for by local people, relied on the canteens in ministry buildings for their daily meals and access to shelter. When those canteens were shut down by fire and unrest, hundreds of animals faced sudden hunger, injury and abandonment.
A responder from Sneha’s Care feeds community animals left behind in the wreckage after violent protests. Photo: © Sneha's Care
When our partner on the ground alerted us to the situation, IFAW responded with emergency funding that enabled Sneha’s Care to continue/increase/not miss a step in its vital mission:
- Mass feeding – In the hardest hit zones (Bhaisepati, Nakkhu, Jawalakhel, Thapathali, Maitighar, Bhadrakali, and Baneshwor) Sneha’s care began feeding more than 500 dogs each day. Local volunteers prepared nutritious vegan meals (rice, lentils, seasonal vegetables, tofu, and sweet potato) to replace the lost food supply.
- Medical treatment – Beyond hunger, many dogs were wounded or traumatised. With our emergency funding, 54 injured animals received care including IV fluids, dressing, and follow-up treatment in the mobile unit and shelter.
In addition, a relief network was established across multiple urban zones, ensuring steady access to food and medical care despite the surrounding unrest.
Not just numbers
These aren’t just numbers—they’re lives saved, suffering averted, and hope restored. In Nepal, community dogs live at the interface of human society and urban ecology. Disruptions that affect people can rapidly cascade into animal welfare crises. Studies show free roaming dogs are particularly vulnerable to disease, trauma, and abandonment.
With funding and the ability to step in swiftly, Sneha’s Care not only protected individual animals but upheld our wider belief that communities and animals thrive best together. In crisis contexts, animals are too often the silent casualties. This intervention in Nepal affirmed that animal health and welfare matters to people too, and that prompt support can make a real difference.
Looking ahead with hope
The emergency feeding and treatment were immediate steps, but the work doesn’t end there. These community dogs will continue to benefit from ongoing welfare support, community engagement, and humane education efforts. As Nepal rebuilds, so too must its systems that support animal welfare.
We commend Sneha’s Care for this vital and continued work on the ground in Nepal—their local knowledge, dedication, and courage in the face of sudden chaos were crucial.
To our supporters—thank you. Your generosity enables rapid, lifesaving action when animals need it most. Together we can ensure that even in the hardest moments, animals are not forgotten, hope is upheld, and solutions are delivered.
Related content
Every problem has a solution, every solution needs support.
The problems we face are urgent, complicated and resistant to change. Real solutions demand creativity, hard work and involvement from people like you.