A legacy of live-saving work

Mayhew Afghanistan’s work moves into a transition phase

The end of 2024 marked the conclusion of our five-year project to deliver a dog population management programme in Kabul, Afghanistan, alongside our existing rabies vaccination programme. Our work in Kabul has now entered a transition phase, with this vital work passing into the hands of the Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock, Kabul University and Kabul Municipality with whom we have worked over the last 7 years.

Having worked in the country for many years, we were registered as an NGO in Afghanistan in 2016, with the aim of:

eliminating canine-mediated rabies in Kabul through a mass canine rabies vaccination programme
managing the free-roaming dog population of Kabul in a humane way
building a safer and healthier community for both dogs and Kabul residents
building capacity in the veterinary sector in Afghanistan

Over the years, our dedicated team has made significant improvements in animal welfare, helping authorities to control the roaming dog population in a humane and effective way and working towards eliminating rabies in Kabul city and a 20km buffer zone beyond the city limits.

Since the dog population management programme began in July 2019, the team have neutered over 52,500 dogs and vaccinated more than 132,500 dogs, resulting in improved health and wellbeing outcomes for them, and their communities, and preventing dogs and people from contracting rabies and other zoonotic diseases.

We are proud to say that, thanks to the work of the team, our latest dog sight survey in 2024 showed that 70% of dogs had been neutered in the sixteen central districts of Kabul. The team’s work also means that we have surpassed the threshold of 70% of dogs vaccinated against rabies in all the districts in which we work in Kabul – the critical percentage needed to reach sustainable ‘herd immunity’ and prevent outbreaks of rabies.

We are incredibly proud of everything our team in Afghanistan has achieved, and their groundbreaking work that has saved many thousands of canine and human lives.

Dr Mo, Mayhew Afghanistan’s Country Director, says:

““Successfully handing over the Trap-Vaccinate-Neuter-Return programme to the government is a significant achievement. It ensures long-term sustainability, broader reach, and a lasting impact on animal welfare. This transition means our efforts will continue under official support, securing a humane approach to managing stray populations.

For me, it’s a deeply fulfilling moment—seeing our work become a lasting legacy that improves lives and creates a compassionate future for animals and communities.””

Dr Mo

Mayhew Afghanistan's Country Director

Since 2003, Mayhew has been providing training in small animal veterinary care in Afghanistan to help build capacity within the Afghan veterinary profession – meaning that now, we are well positioned to help transition the programme to the care of the local authorities.

Over the last 20 years, we have trained fourth and fifth year veterinary students from Kabul University Vet Faculty. Since being registered as an NGO, we have recruited a veterinary team to deliver our dog population management programme in Kabul. We have trained our own team, cohorts of Kabul University Vet Faculty students, newly graduated vets wanting to gain some practical experience and more recently vets from the Afghan Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation & Livestock.

Although the programme is now moving to a new phase, our work is not quite yet done.

To ensure the incredible impact the team has made is sustained, and canine and human lives continue to be protected, we are working with local parties to deliver a rigorous and evidence-based maintenance programme and a handover of our work.

This comprises guidance, personnel support and financial support to ensure a smooth transition that will continue to protect Kabul from dog-mediated rabies and the milestones achieved through our trap, neuter and return and rabies vaccination programmes.

Caroline Yates, Mayhew’s Head of International Projects and Relations, says:

““I am so incredibly proud of Dr Mo, the team in Kabul and the amazing achievements they have made through sheer hard work and dedication. We were determined that these programmes would be Afghan-led, not only delivering better health and welfare for the roaming dogs of Kabul, but also encouraging and developing small animal health and welfare provision within the Afghan veterinary profession and students at Kabul University Vet Faculty.

Over the past seven years, Mayhew Afghanistan overcame many obstacles: damaged vaccines, Covid restrictions and then regime change. Despite working in a most challenging environment the team have been able to make great strides in humanely managing the roaming dog population in Kabul and by vaccinating more than 132 500 dogs against rabies, on average over 75% of the dog on the streets, made Kabul a healthier and safer place for the whole community.””

Caroline Yates

Mayhew’s Head of International Projects and Relations

What exactly have the team achieved in Afghanistan?

In January 2017 Mayhew convinced Kabul authorities to end the inhumane and ineffective practice of culling dogs using strychnine poisoning
In 2018, Dr Mo received the Animal Hero Awards’ Special Recognition Award for his dedication and innovative work helping thousands of animals in Afghanistan.
In July 2019, Mayhew Afghanistan opened the country’s first city-wide Animal Birth Control Centre
In total, the team have neutered 52,556 dogs
The team have vaccinated 132,681 dogs
And almost 18,000 children and adults benefited from our community education work

Our work in Afghanistan has only been possible thanks to the generous support of the Brigitte Bardot Foundation, Dogs Trust Worldwide, Edgard Cooper Foundation, the Julie & Bill Ruehle Foundation and countless Mayhew donors and supporters.

Thank you for changing the lives of hundreds of thousands of dogs and people.

Pet Advice