The dogs of Ladakh, India need your help! We like to call this fundraiser "A Year of Kukur Tihar," where we can celebrate the iconic "dog holiday" all year long!

Our Operations Budget is $45,000 per year and it sure would be nice to know we can continue saving lives for the next 12 months.

Lives like Sumpo, who was smashed by a careless driver and had to have a leg amputated. Like Arjuna, who was paralyzed by a reckless driver but has mastered her very own wheelchair! Like Niles, who survived Distemper and now has a safe place to call home. You can meet more of our dogs by clicking here (and you can watch an 80-second overview video here ).

Who are we?

CACC was founded in July 2024 and quickly became the largest, most active dog rescue in the entire region. We perform critical rescue operations daily, including multiple hit-and-run cases all over the Leh's Indus River Valley region–dogs that would otherwise die scared, alone, and in pain on the side of the road.

In addition to rescue, we vaccinate and sterilize. We know that the only humane solution to control the street dog population is sterilization.

Personally, Lauren and BJ have been on the advisory board of the Chamba Animal Welfare Society since May 2024.

Where are we?

Ladakh lies on the Tibetan Plateau of the Himalaya Mountains in India. Our center is 30 minutes away from Leh, set on 12.5 acres just west of Thiksey Monastery, donated by H.E. Kushok Thiksey.

Who do we serve?

Our resident dogs include the paralyzed and amputees; old timers in need of compassion and TLC in their golden years; abandoned puppies and dogs who were cruelly dumped by their owners and don't have the skills to survive on the streets.

In just a year's time, we have welcomed over 300 residents–dogs that otherwise would not survive Ladakh's harsh environment, a high-altitude desert with winters that get to -40°. We've rescued, rehabilitated, and released (to their original spots) 160 more.

If we believe a street dog can live well in its original neighborhood, we'll return it after they are fully recovered, opening up another spot at our shelter for a dog who needs it more.

We treat many TVT (Transmissible Venereal Tumor) cancers which are spreading throughout Ladakh; we have great success with a series of chemotherapy treatments. Chookie was hemorrhaging when we found her, and now she is living her best life at the center.

Street dogs are a relatively new problem in Ladakh, one both created in part by and exacerbated by Ladakh's tourism industry. When hotels and restaurants are closed October through April (and thus no food waste), these dogs starve. Their utter desperation can turn to violence–towards each other, Ladakhi wildlife, and even towards humans. Helping these dogs directly helps the Ladakhi community.

How can you help?

Our Operations Budget is $45,000 per year, and we still have many Capital Needs (first off, winterizing the open-air ambulance). We would love to know that we can afford to continue saving lives for the next year and focus on Capital Projects and hiring a dedicated Manager/Para-vet.

We have the physical space and the staff to accept new dogs, but we need to make sure we can increase our food and medical budget accordingly.

Our on-site staff is an extended family of nine dedicated folks from Nepal who work in harmony around the clock (including three children; the two school-age children are attending school in Ladakh). We work hard to make sure they have the best home environment possible, with a recent purchase of brand new beds and linens, an iron stove, vitamins, and a year's worth of menstrual hygiene supplies. With the Operations Budget handled, we can focus on building a second level on their living quarters to give more privacy (and a bit more space away from prying paws!)

We are launching this fundraiser in conjunction with Kukur Tihar 2025, a Nepali holiday that honors dogs as loyal friends and protectors. We hope that by Kukur Tihar 2026, our goal can be met!

All online donations will be funneled through here, from Dog Sponsorships to funding a day/week/month of meals.

If you prefer another method of donation (check, Zelle, Venmo) just email me and let me know! We will cover 100% of the costs associated with transferring these donations to India.

We can also provide a Digital "Gift of Compassion" Certificate if you are giving this gift on behalf of someone else to commemorate a birthday, celebration, or even to honor the loss of a fur baby. Please just email me and let me know the occasion.

Thank you for making a HUGE IMPACT in their little lives. They didn't ask to be born into suffering. With your help, we can give them the best life possible.