ABOUT
We protect the health of people, animals, and the environment in Nepal's Himalaya.
HIMALAYAN MUTT PROJECT
What we do and why we do it
Left unmanaged, dogs become a danger to people and wildlife. Dogs in Nepal are vectors of rabies, a life-threatening disease to humans, domestic animals and wildlife. Free-roaming dogs attack and kill endangered wildlife like musk deer and red panda. For every snow leopard in Nepal's Himalaya, there are dozens of dogs. This makes dogs the most numerous carnivore.
We bring free neutering and vaccination opportunities to villages in Nepal, so that locals no longer have to resort to inhumane methods of culling, such as drowning or the use of poisons. Culling with poisons kills native vultures when the birds consume the carcasses of poisoned dogs. Animal Birth Control and Anti-Rabies Vaccination Programmes are WHO recommended programmes for effective control of dogs and rabies transmission to humans.
WHEN DOGS ARE LEFT UNMANAGED...
Dogs in unmanaged populations often get into fights. Without veterinary care, they die slowly from infected wounds.
Dogs kill red panda when they attack or spread the distemper virus, which is fatal in red pandas.
Dogs frequently attack and kill musk deer - a small, solitary, elusive, and endangered mammal.
When dogs attack livestock, shepherds are compelled to "manage" dogs by killing them with poison.
Vultures are killed when they consume the carcasses of poisoned dogs discarded in the landscape.
Dogs are an important part of Himalayan communities. Dogs cannot be eradicated, but they can be managed.
OUR SOLUTIONS
For today and into the future
Neutering and anti-rabies vaccinations have an immediate and long-term effect on reducing birth rates and controlling disease transmission. It is critical for free-roaming dogs to receive vaccination boosters annually as their risk of encountering a rabid animal is high. This makes it necessary for us to maintain our effort in the Himalaya.
We bring urban vets from within Nepal into high mountain regions for an opportunity to respond to challenges beyond urban settings. HMP remains the first and only organisation to routinely neuter and vaccinate dogs in Nepal's high Himalaya. Local vets take these skills and knowledge to further reaches of Nepal, when share their experience with other communities.
We educate communities about how to safely interact with dogs and recognise symptoms of disease. Through sharing our knowledge and providing resources, we empower communities to play a more proactive role in protecting the health and welfare of people and wildlife, today and into the future.
OUR PARTNER
Himalayan Animal Rescue Trust (HART) is a registered NGO operating in Pokhara. HART helps street dogs and aims to eradicate rabies from the areas they operate in. Despite maintaining a lean organisation with less than 10 staff based in Pokhara, HART programmes have massive reach throughout Nepal, and focus on encouraging alternatives to the use of readily-available poisons in managing street dog populations, such as sterilisation, mass anti-rabies vaccination camps and community awareness campaigns.
MEET THE TEAM
Debby Ng
Founder &
Scientific Director
Debby is a photojournalist, ecologist, educator and National Geographic Explorer. She guides HMP's science-based organisational strategy, and coordinates local and global efforts to facilitate the work that makes HMP tick. Her roles include engaging government agencies, academics, and sponsors and supporters. Debby has worked in animal welfare since 1992. She is a Duke University Global Fellow in Conservation Biology and read Wildlife Disease Ecology at Colorado State University.
Mukhiya Gotame
Founder &
Community Development
Community leader, naturalist and voice of the Himalaya. Mukhiya is the blood of the Himalayan Mutt Project, and carries the monumental responsibility of motivating and educating Himalayan communities, and their leaders, about the importance of managing the health of dogs for the benefit of people, wildlife, and the environment. If Debby is the spark of this project, Mukhiya is certainly its fire.
Ajay Narsingh Rana
Oureach & Communications
Education is about creative and effective communication. A single idea is constantly rephrased so that everyone from kids, business owners and even policy makers, end up on the same page. Ajay's role is to enable stakeholders to realise the goals and vision put forward by HMP, based on what their communities have asked for and need. Ajay facilitates communication between local and international journalists, academics and volunteers to raise awareness about our work.
Dr Tharm Sook Keng
Veterinary Advisor
Dr Tharm spent 15 years in small animal practice after graduating from Murdoch University in 2003. After spending some time in private practices and a few volunteer stints overseas, she set up Island Veterinary Clinic in Singapore with partners in 2011. She enjoys doing surgery and fieldwork, and joined HMP's neuter programme in 2018. She would like to continue similar work in the future, perhaps with her trusty but very spirited dog by her side.
OUR PARTNER
Himalayan Animal Rescue Trust (HART) is a registered NGO operating in Pokhara. HART helps street dogs and aims to eradicate rabies from the areas they operate in. Despite maintaining a lean organisation with less than 10 staff based in Pokhara, HART programmes have massive reach throughout Nepal, and focus on encouraging alternatives to the use of readily-available poisons in managing street dog populations, such as sterilisation, mass anti-rabies vaccination camps and community awareness campaigns. Partnerships help us tap on existing skills and equipment that is required to get this work done. Through sharing resources, we save on huge costs that can otherwise be directed towards the massive costs of transporting a team into the rugged Himalaya.
OUR SUPPORTERS
INDIVIDUALS
Aaron Low
Abby Ng
Adelyn Chan
Adriana G.D.
Ahmad Rafiuddin
Ai Wei Lua
Ailin Mao
Airani
alan tan
Ale Cere
Alexandra Kilian
Alice Tan
Allan Chong
Alvin Wong
Am
Amanda Tan
Amnesty Avalon Group
Amy Teo
Ang Xin Hui
Audrey Lee
Barbara Yam
Bee Cheng
Betsy Mueller
BGO Ecoshop
Bhala Rai
Brad
Candice Chiew
Carleen Chamberlain
Caroline Lim-Chia
Carrie
Cathy Huang
Chan Chee Mun
Chhetey Gurung
Chi Yu Chia
Chia Suat Wei
Chim Chee Kong
Chompten Gurung
Chloe Tan YT
Cindy Tan
Clare Amanda Johnson
Claudia Gonzalez
Courtney Waugh
Cyril Ng
Daniel Demellis
Danielle Rob-Whitehead
David Loh
Dawn Kua
Dawn Toh
Delia Quek
Della Davi
Kate Hutchinson
Katherine Vickery-Howe
Kathryn Thomas
Kathy Xu
Kelvin Chen
Kenneth Gerard Pinto
Kit Mui Loh
Kittisak Poonnotok
"Kltr Kmpf"
Knut Hansen
Kristy Lark
Lai Chiu Yun
Lam Pei Min
Latha Jeyaraj
Laval Foo
Lee San San
Leong Kwok Peng
leslie kok
Lily Woon
Lim Cheng Puay
Louise McNeil
Luke Smoothy
Lydia Low
Lynett Chong
Madeline Ling
Marcus Chua
Margaret Thomas
Marie Ang
Mary Carbone
May Ng
Megan MacNeill
Mei Chiang
Melita Low
Miaw H Goh
Mikel Kew
Ming Kiat Tan
Nadaloou Maqc
Natalie Soh
Nathalee Handy
Ng Lin Yu Lynn
Oh Zhi Wei
Oliver
OriginUC
Paul Cheng
Petrus Sahetapy
Phil Evans
Poon Yuet Foong
Rach Chong
Rachel Middleton
Ray Tan
Rebecca Mutton
Sabrina Tang
Sam Clements
Shankar Gurung
Sarah Rosenberg
Sean Yap
Shannon Heo
Shaun Wee
Shawn Quek
Sheema Abdul Aziz
Shirley Soh
Silvana Tran
Sim Qin Ying
simon race
Simon Rowell
Sivasothi N.
Slyvia Noeding Lyttle
"Stripy"
Sue Bailey
Sunny Sanjay
Susan Poulsen
Susan Stephanie
Sylvia Yong
Tan Geraldine
Tan Hong Jian
Tan Sijie
Tessa Marie Alexandra Yeo
Thanhnhan
Theresa Su
Thio Hui Bing
Uzumakee Narutoo
Vanda Jensen
Vera Lahme
Veronica Lee
Victor Chong
Wagel Gurung
Wendy
Wenman Liu
Wilson Yeo
Wong
Wong Fong Lai
Wong Ley Kun
Wyatt Ang
Xu Wanwei
Xu Weiting
YiYong Yang
Yvonne Chng
Zannah Gubler
Zul Jamil
Dillah Zakbah
"Dronietta seashorensis"
Ed Siew
Edwn Christian
Eileen Chai
Elgene Fong
Erin McCartin
Frank Schaer
Fung Tze Kwan
Glenn Rajoo
Grant Eaton
Grant Stoelwinder
Harvon Goh
He Ruiming
Heather Downing
Hester Jackson-Scott
Hock Wee Tan
Hsu Han Yen
Huiyuan Wong
Irene Tan
Ivan Kwan
James Ong
Jani Tanzil
Jean Loo
Jeff Teo
Jeffrey Low
Jenny McLeish
Jermyn Wee
Jessica Hamilton
Joanna Betteridge
Joanne
Joanne Tan
Jocelyne Sze
Joe Ng
Joe Piecuch
John Cobey
Jose Hong Farn Chun
Joshua
Julia Heng
Julian Wee
Julie McCredden
Julie Rosenberg
Juria Toramae
Justin Lim
Karenne Tun
Kael Alexa Foo
Kai Scene
Kate Carruthers
KC Gurung
SPONSORS
