Banani Old DOHS first in Bangladesh to achieve 100% dog vaccination and sterilisation
Now every dog within its boundaries - from energetic two-year-olds to older seven-year veterans - has been vaccinated and sterilised, ensuring both animal welfare and community safety
Almost a year after residents of Banani Old DOHS protested against a rumoured dog-culling plan by the housing council, the neighbourhood has turned that moment of defiance into a story of compassion and collective action. The community has now become the first in Bangladesh to achieve 100% vaccination and sterilisation of its stray dogs.
In a city where stray animals are often seen as a problem rather than companions, Banani Old DOHS has redefined its relationship with the dogs that roam its streets.
Now every dog within its boundaries - from energetic two-year-olds to older seven-year veterans - has been vaccinated and sterilised, ensuring both animal welfare and community safety.
"My two-year-old plays with the fully vaccinated and sterilised dogs and cats of Banani DOHS every day. I am grateful for their protection, my child's exposure to the sentient branch of nature, and his mental development of treating all living things as part of a co-existential environment," said Hasan A Salahuddin, an educator and a permanent resident of Banani DOHS.
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The change is visible on the streets. Dogs once wary and restless now trot alongside security guards, curl up under trees for afternoon naps, and wag their tails at familiar human faces.
"They are no longer strays in our eyes," said one long-time resident.
"They are part of Banani Old DOHS, just like us."
"This is the kind of humane progress our city needs. Healthy dogs mean a healthier community. Vaccination and sterilisation not only protect the dogs, but also the people living alongside them. I used to worry about my kids walking past stray dogs. Now I know they are vaccinated and cared for, it feels like a blessing for all of us," said Ms Ahsana Akter, a resident of Banani Old DOHS.
From protest to action
What began as a protest against a feared culling gradually transformed into a structured campaign. Residents, volunteers, and animal welfare advocates joined hands to protect and care for the community's dogs. Feeding efforts evolved into coordinated drives for rabies vaccination and sterilisation, ensuring a humane solution to population growth while keeping the area rabies-free.
"The goal was simple, to make sure the dogs live healthier lives and our neighbourhood remains safe," said one of the organisers involved in the initiative.
A model for others
The results speak beyond numbers.
Residents note that the animals, once skittish, now appear calmer and more trusting. For many, the initiative has also strengthened a sense of shared responsibility.
"It has been a long journey, years of dedication and care since 2019. We took responsibility for these dogs, raised them, ensured they were well-fed, treated, and loved. It was truly a team effort, and today I feel deeply happy and proud that we have finally achieved 100% sterilisation and vaccination in Banani Old DOHS," said Rabab Chowdhury, another resident.
This achievement, animal welfare workers say, offers a roadmap for other neighbourhoods across Dhaka struggling with stray populations.
In a city grappling with overpopulation, pollution, and often indifference towards its voiceless creatures, Banani Old DOHS has shown how empathy can reshape urban living.
"They have set an example for the entire country," said an animal rights advocate.
"It proves that humane solutions are not only possible, but they also enrich communities."
A community with heart
For the dogs, the transformation has meant safety, food, and belonging. For residents, it has been proven that compassion can inspire collective change.
The animal lovers of Banani Old DOHS treat these dogs as their own. They never miss a vaccination, they rush for help the moment a dog is hurt, and they stand by them with love and care. They are living proof of what true compassion looks like," said Md Rohmot Ali, senior vet assistant of Dhaka Pet Care.
Their achievement stands as a reminder that a humane approach to animals can ripple outward, creating harmony for both people and their four-legged companions.
