"Collars not Cruelty" initiative provides hope for dogs and humans alike in Bangladesh

In Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh, both people and animals struggle for survival on a daily basis. Due to a high number of human deaths from rabies every year, inhumane dog culls were frequent. Now with the launch of a mass rabies vaccination program, life is looking up as both the humans and dogs are protected from this dreaded disease.

With Shahida and her son consoling her, a newly vaccinated Pinko displays her red collar while waiting anxiously as her pups are vaccinated.
© WSPA

In November 2011, a mass rabies vaccination program was launched in Cox's Bazar. The teams working there quickly found that while people were afraid of contracting rabies and dying, many of them were fond of the neighbourhood dogs and did not approve of the cruel way that dogs were killed on an all too frequent basis.

Pinko is a young dog and lives with Shahida and her family, not far from the beach. Shahida raised Pinko as a pup and her mother as well. Sadly, Pinko's mother went missing one day, and it was found that she had been fed poisoned meat, becoming another victim of the cruel dog culls. "We found out that she was missing and called and called for her. When we found her body and realized what had happened, we were very upset and sad to have lost her," says Shahida.

These days, Pinko is a much loved family pet, and recently became a mother herself. Her two puppies are constantly fawned over by Shahida's children and Pinko has proven herself to be a very doting mother.

Now very protective of her three dogs, Shahida was relieved to hear that Pinko and the puppies would be vaccinated, and that they would be safe from rabies, and the threat of inhumane culling.

Pinko's pups are healthy and well cared for. Here, they play on the beach as they wait to be vaccinated for rabies.
© WSPA

Proudly wearing her new red collar, Pinko watched anxiously as her pups were vaccinated then sprayed with non-toxic paint ( they were too small for collars), to indicate that they too had been vaccinated.

"My neighbours always tell me that we will get in trouble for keeping pet dogs, but we love them. Pinko is a good dog, who never bites just plays with us, and we feel safer as she protects our home," says Shahida.

We are very grateful to our donors for their support of the Collars not Cruelty campaign. This crucial work has helped not only to protect dogs and people, but also to change the attitudes of people towards dogs they encounter on the street. If you would like to see how you have kept many dogs safe from the threat of rabies, please visit www.wspa.ca/redcollar