The Kathmandu Animal Treatment Centre, U.K.

The Kathmandu Animal Treatment Centre (KAT Centre), registered as a charity in the United Kingdom under charity number 1137647, is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the welfare of animals, primarily focusing on the street dog population in Nepal. It operates with the mission to rescue, treat, vaccinate, and control the population of stray dogs in Kathmandu and other urbanized regions of Nepal through humane and sustainable methods.

History and Mission

Founded to address the urgent needs of tens of thousands of stray animals living without food, shelter, or medical care in Nepal, the KAT Centre has grown into a pivotal organization in animal welfare within the Kathmandu Valley. The charity works closely with local partners to oversee large-scale animal birth control programmes and to provide medical treatment to vulnerable animals. The organization’s efforts aim to reduce the street dog population humanely while also protecting public health through vaccination initiatives[1][4].

Key Activities

The Kathmandu Animal Treatment Centre focuses on four core areas:

• Animal Rescue: Daily ambulance services collect critically sick and injured animals, providing urgent medical care and shelter.
• Animal Birth Control: The centre manages extensive spay/neuter programmes to control the stray dog population, having sterilized over 20,000 dogs in Kathmandu alone.
• Rabies Prevention: Vaccination campaigns are conducted regularly both for street dogs and those under treatment to prevent rabies transmission in the community. Rabies vaccination is mandatory for all animals admitted to the centre.
• Public Awareness and Education: Outreach programs educate the public, including groups and organizations, on animal welfare and rabies safety to foster coexistence between people and animals[1][2][5].

Impact and Outreach

Operating in a region with more than 23,000 street dogs and over 80,000 pet dogs, the KAT Centre has made significant strides in animal welfare. It has contributed substantially to reducing strays through sterilization and minimizing rabies cases via vaccination drives. The centre also welcomes volunteers from across the globe to assist in treatment, rescue, and care activities, enhancing its operational capacity and fostering international support[5].

Governance and Funding

The charity is governed by a board of trustees (currently five in number) who oversee its strategic direction. It is funded mainly through donations raised in the UK and internationally. The financial records for the year ending September 2023 show a total income of approximately £41,498 and an expenditure of about £56,775. The charity does not operate any trading subsidiaries, and none of its trustees receive remuneration or benefits[4].

The Kathmandu Animal Treatment Centre, U.K. stands as a crucial organization bridging efforts from the UK to on-the-ground animal welfare activities in Nepal, striving to improve the lives of countless animals through compassionate, humane, and effective interventions.

[1] https://katcentre.org/en/ [2] https://katcentre-nepal.org [3] https://katcentre.org/en/contact-us [4] https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-details/?regid=1137647&subid=0 [5] https://rabiesalliance.org/world-rabies-day/nominee/kathmandu-animal-treatment-centre