Celebrating Kindness: A Festival in Nepal that Acknowledges & Respects All Animals
With help from your wonderful donations, Animal Nepal are continuing to provide excellent care, affection, safety and compassion for the special rescued animals at their sanctuary in Dukuchhap.
During October, they provided dedicated care for their horse, Shakti, who now has kidney disease but is responding well to her treatment. The team also celebrated Tihar - a unique festival that honours the deep bonds between humans and animals.
You can read Animal Nepal’s October report below:
Providing Special Care for Shakti
Last month, our beloved horse Shakti was diagnosed with kidney disease after we noticed swelling around her face—one of the signs of the condition. Shakti has been with us since 2010, when she arrived at the sanctuary as a newborn foal alongside her mother, Mukti. Both were rescued from the Trichandra Brick Kiln, but Mukti died soon after rescue as she was sadly in a very poor condition.
Over the years, Shakti has grown up surrounded by care and affection, becoming one of the most gentle and affectionate members of our herd. Under the close supervision of our veterinary team, Shakti is now receiving regular treatment and supportive care, including medication and fluid therapy. In addition to her kidney treatment, Shakti also received a hoof trim last month, as she had begun showing mild signs of lameness. The trimming helped relieve discomfort and improve her mobility.
We are relieved to share that Shakti is responding well to treatment, is eating comfortably and has a good amount of energy. Our caretakers continue to monitor her daily, ensuring she remains as comfortable as possible during her recovery.
Celebrating Tihar
October also brought Tihar - one of Nepal’s most cherished festivals - which we celebrated at the sanctuary. Tihar honours the deep bond between humans and animals, recognising the vital roles animals play in our lives. On Kukur Tihar, we worshipped the 11 dogs who live at our sanctuary, adorning them with tika, flower garlands, and special treats to thank them for their loyalty and love.
For Gai (Cow) Tihar and Goru (Oxen) Tihar, we extended our celebrations to include our cows, oxen and buffaloes. We hoped to involve everyone, but our buffaloes Lakshmi and Aashu decided they’d rather skip the festivities, and Kumu, one of our bulls, also made it clear he wasn’t in the mood for rituals! In the end, Kaali and Prawin were the stars of the day—gracefully accepting their garlands, tikas and treats, while the rest of the herd looked on from a distance.
Through these celebrations, our team also reflected on the true meaning of Tihar—that the respect and kindness shown to animals should extend beyond rituals and festive days. The fact that so many of these animals once needed rescue is a reminder we still have a long way to go before the true essence of these festivals is achieved. Every animal - whether worshipped, working or stray - deserves compassion, care and dignity every single day of the year.
Towards the end of October, we experienced another spell of heavy rainfall. Fortunately, the preventive measures and reinforcements made after last year’s flooding once again proved effective. The sanctuary remained safe and secure, with all animals protected and comfortable despite the extreme weather.
As we move into November, we remain deeply grateful for the support from Animal Aid Abroad, which enables us to provide lifelong care, comfort, and medical treatment to our rescued and retired working animals.