By Deb Jarrett | Founder
Dr. Shaheem with a patient
We cannot believe that we are almost half way through 2025, but we are excited to share with you all we have accomplished between January and April.
First, if you did not have a chance to read our 2024 Impact Report, here is a copy for you to review.
During the last 4 months your donations and support have allowed us to do the following:
Please continue reading for some highlights!
March Sterilization Camp/Humane World Partnership
In 2025, our goal is to complete 1,500 sterilizations—a 22% increase from last year. To help us get there, we held a 3-week sterilization camp in March, during which our team successfully operated on 307 dogs.
As many of you know, the monsoon season in Dharamsala is long and wet, making catching dogs difficult. That’s why we focus on running large-scale sterilization camps in the spring and fall, when conditions are safer and more predictable.
Unfortunately, our efforts this year were impacted by repeated breakdowns of our 14-year-old ambulance, which kept us from reaching our March goal of 500 dogs. We’re currently raising funds to replace the vehicle so that we’re fully equipped to meet our targets post-monsoon.
If you’d like to help, any amount will bring us closer to the $14,000 needed for a reliable new ambulance.
On a brighter note, we’re thrilled to announce that DAR has been selected by Human World (formerly Humane Society International) to join their Veterinary Training and Capacity Building Program!
The program began in February, when members of the Human World team spent two weeks with us at DAR, working closely with our vets, dog catchers, and para-vets to strengthen our sterilization protocols and ensure we are aligned with the latest, most humane practices.
We’re honored to be part of this initiative and excited for the impact it will have on the quality and reach of our program.
Maria is Ok Because of Your Support.
Sweet Maria is just one of the 119 homeless dogs you helped this year so far. Maria was found by our team while out catching. She was all alone and at least 50% of her fur was missing and her skin was bright pink and raw.
Here she is getting one of the many medicated baths she needed to help get her healthy again. Like many street dogs, Maria has loved getting all of the love and care provided by our team.
This year is flying by, but we’re grateful to have held a Karuna Rural Village Program this month, reaching 20 bright and curious girls.
The session was led by DAR’s own Neelam, who taught the girls how to safely interact with street dogs to avoid bites—and what to do if a bite occurs. While these lessons may sound simple to some, we were told that in their village, many still believe in treating dog bites with jaggery and holy water prepared by priests to prevent rabies.
The girls were deeply engaged, sharing personal stories and asking thoughtful questions. One brave girl spoke about being bullied—even by her grandmother—for feeding animals.
Our team reassured her that feeding dogs is not only kind but essential. It helps keep community dogs friendly and approachable, which is critical for vaccination and sterilization efforts. We also emphasized that Indian law protects her right to feed animals, and it is illegal to harass her for doing so.
At the end of the program, the girls recorded a video sharing what they learned—you can watch it at the link below.
We’re thrilled to announce that Human World for Animals will also be helping us expand and strengthen this program. Together, we are planting the seeds of compassion, one village at a time.
We cannot thank you enough for helping us create a better and safer world for dogs and people in Dharamsala.
Deb Jarrett, Founder & Executive Director
PS: Consider becoming a monthly sustaining donor so we can plan our future.
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