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Saving Strays

The Buddhist nation of Bhutan will not tolerate the killing of stray dogs. This is because of a profound belief in reincarnation. As a result, the country has a problem: what to do about the pack of wild canines that roam the capital city of Thimphu and bark well into the night. The answer came from a 24-year-old dog lover who recently returned to the city after her studying at a university in India. She is now the director of Bhutan's Royal Society for the Protection and Care of Animals. Tashi Payden Tshering got permission from the government to create a fenced, 5-acre animal sanctuary, far enough from any town to prevent the dogs from being heard. The strays will be relocated there, fed and cared for humanely so they can quietly live out this dog's life while preparing for the next one. Her effort wasn't easy: she had to earn the trust of these wild canines by feeding them with leftover food from restaurants and hotels. Once that was accomplished, she was able to get them spayed and vaccinated for rabies. According to Knight Ridder, she also is setting up a halfway house of sorts, a shelter for dogs that are sick or injured. Now, residents can get a good night's sleep and the Fidos will have a better life - this time around.

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