Royal Bhutan Police (RBP) are attempting to catch the culprit that dumped no less than 100 dogs below the road in Gaiguri, 13 km away from Phuentsholing towards Thimphu on June 11.
People in the locality where the dogs were dumped suspect that the dogs were brought all the way from Wangdue, Punakha, Paro, etc. They reason that no rampant dog catch were made in Phuentsholing or Gedu or Chukha.
The dogs were found tied up inside sacks and some had suffocated to death. All the dogs were found to be disoriented, injured, and traumatized. The people in the area are worried about the aggressive dogs now lost in the wilderness.
The stench dead dogs had alerted the people in the area in the morning of June 12. The incident was reported to Jangsa Animal Saving Trust on June 14.
A coordinator of Jangsa Animal Saving Trust, Sonam Norzin, said that about 20 dogs were found dead due to starvation and suffocation and more than 80 dogs were injured. “When we reached the scene, the dead dogs were already buried by the local leaders and locality,” he added.
He said that the Jangsa team conducted enquiries with all the locals of townships and villages along the Thimphu-Phuentsholing highway, including the checkpoints along the way, to establish a possible lead to the culprit. All they found was that a DCM truck was used to transport the dogs to the area.
“However, for some sinister reason, nobody seems to know about the DCM truck number or the driver or who and which agency or community was responsible for this outrageous cruelty,” Sonam Norzin added.
Jangsa was able to rescue about 20 puppies that had survived and many injured and sick dogs were treated and moved to the Jangsa Animal Shelter in Serbithang, Thimphu. Further medical treatment was given to the dogs with the help of the animal hospital.
“We are now looking for many possibilities for long term rehabilitation, food and care of the dogs, in partnerships with locals.” Jangsa will also request dratshangs and lhakhangs to keep the dogs as well.
According to RBP, the incident possibly took place between 7:30 pm to 8 pm on June 11, matching the statement given by a man who passed the route. The man who passed the route at 7:30pm did not spot the dumped dogs while on his return he spotted the dogs.
Police said that, on the morning of June 12, the villagers informed a Sampheling Gup where on June 14 they got the information. Phuentsholing police said that on the morning of June 14, they visited the scene and on their way to the scene, they spotted four dead dogs lying on the road at different locations.
In addition, the police said that there were many dogs loitering around the roads not knowing where to go. Upon reaching the scene, they saw another seven dead dogs.
“It is hard to get to the culprit because we have no lead and no one in the area has seen the vehicle or the person, and we have shared the information throughout the country,” police said.