KATHMANDU: Kathmandu Metropolitan City has officially launched a community dog sterilization program across its 32 wards. The initiative, aimed at controlling the street dog population and improving public health, is being implemented through agreements with five organizations.
The program, part of the fiscal year 2025/26 budget, began after a call for proposals from interested organizations to handle the sterilization and rabies vaccination of community animals. Five organizations were selected, with specific wards assigned to each.
Nurnidhi Neupane, Head of the Agriculture and Livestock Department, said the sterilization will be conducted as a public service, not a commercial venture. “We expect the process to follow agreed standards and animals should not be released until fully recovered,” he said during the signing ceremony.
The first phase of the program will sterilize 4,000 dogs with a budget of Rs 10 million. An additional 4,000 dogs are set to be sterilized if further funds are approved in December. Various organizations will operate in different wards; for instance, Cat Center will work in Wards 7, 9, 15, 16, 17, 19, and 20.
As per the agreement, organizations must carry out sterilization and vaccination with local government oversight and submit detailed reports. Payment will be made in two installments: 80% upon successful completion, and 20% after quarterly reports.
The cost for sterilization and vaccination has been set at Rs 2,500 per animal. Last fiscal year, over 5,500 animals were sterilized, and 16,000 received rabies vaccinations.
This initiative aims to improve animal welfare while addressing public health concerns in Kathmandu.
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