–There are 160,000 stray dogs and cats in UB–

For us humans, our four-legged friends may feel like just one part of life—perhaps even a temporary source of joy. But for them, their owners are their entire world. From the time they are tiny puppies that fit in the palm of your hand, they receive their first warmth from their owner. They patiently wait for hours behind the door for you to return home from work. When you are sad, they quietly come and lie beside you, sharing your feelings. They do not ask for expensive houses or fine clothes. All they want is a little food, a warm place to rest, and for you to keep your promise never to abandon them.

There is an unwritten rule around the world: the level of a nation’s civilization is measured by how it treats its most vulnerable members—especially those who cannot speak for themselves, like animals. By this measure, present-day Ulaanbaatar City, where around 160,000 animals roam the streets without owners and billions of tugriks are spent on mass culling, clearly falls short.

In Mongolia, it has become a common phenomenon to treat animals like toys, adoring them when they are young and cute, only to abandon them on the streets once the novelty fades. Traditionally, however, Mongolians have been a people who treated animals with care and compassion. In the past, we would even bring young lambs and kids indoors to keep them warm, feeding and nurturing them with kindness. Today, that compassionate spirit seems to be fading, replaced by a growing number of individuals who neglect, abuse, and mistreat their pets.

PROHIBITED TO SHOOT, YET 1.3 BILLION MNT HAVE BEEN BUDGETED  

Protecting the rights of companion animals is also closely linked to public health and safety. However, in reality, implementation has fallen short despite the legal framework being in place.

Last year, 4,810 people nationwide were injured from dog bites, 77.2 percent of which occurred in the capital city. Of those bitten, 48.3 percent, or 1,778 individuals, were children, according to the National Traumatology and Orthopedics Research Center. In just the first two months of this year, 597 people were bitten by dogs, including 250 children. In other words, although laws and regulations exist, enforcement remains weak, and oversight mechanisms are insufficient. Additionally, the slow pace of animal registration and microchipping continues to limit the ability to hold irresponsible owners accountable through fines.

The Law on Animals, consisting of nine chapters and 42 articles, came into force on January 1, 2024. It was designed to comprehensively address issues such as injuries caused by stray animals and the environmental pollution resulting from the inhumane killing and burial of animals.

Under this law, a person responsible for a pet must be at least 18 years old, legally competent, financially capable of providing food and shelter, and must complete relevant training. Pet owners are required to microchip their dogs and cats within 50 days of birth, register them with their local district or khoroolol, vaccinate them against rabies and infectious diseases at least three times, deworm them quarterly, and ensure sterilization procedures are carried out.

The law also prohibits continuously tethering animals or confining them in restrictive environments, abandoning them without supervision, starving or dehydrating them to the point of death, and separating offspring from their mothers within 60 days. Violations are subject to penalties under the Law on Infringement.

Furthermore, Subsection 12.2.1 of Chapter Four prohibits the use of cruel methods against animals, while Section 12.4 explicitly bans reducing the population of stray dogs and cats through shooting.

However, in practice, enforcement remains inadequate. Under orders and directives issued by the Capital City Mayor Kh.Nyambaatar and the General Manager of Ulaanbaatar, over 1,000 personnel from emergency services, police, and the city administration were mobilized on weekends last year to capture and drive away stray animals, which was an action that drew considerable public criticism.

Specifically, this operation was carried out under the Governor’s Resolution No. A/357, on organizing measures to ensure environmental safety, and the General Manager’s Order No. A/50, issued on April 14, 2025, on organizing a unified operation to capture stray dogs and cats.

Moreover, approximately 1.3 billion MNT have been allocated in the 2025 budget to reduce the number of stray animals, with tenders announced in four districts of the capital. These include 642 million MNT in Songinokhairkhan District, 450 million MNT in Bayanzurkh District, 245 million MNT in Bayangol District, and 143 million MNT in Khan-Uul District.

In other words, although shooting stray animals is legally prohibited, in reality, large sums of public funds continue to be spent on ineffective, short-term measures that fail to address the root causes of the problem. If this approach continues, it is impossible to predict how many more animals will be subjected to mass, inhumane killing.

FEMALE DOG CAN MULTIPLY TO 512 WITHIN 3 YEARS 

If one female dog gives birth to an average of 16 puppies per year, and those offspring continue to reproduce without control, their number can grow to 512 in just three years. According to research by the international organization SpayUSA, a single pair of dogs (male and female) can produce up to 67,000 offspring within six years. Considering that dogs live an average of 14 years, their population could potentially exceed 100,000 over their lifetime.

Cats, on the other hand, have an even higher reproductive capacity. A female cat goes into heat three to four times a year and can give birth to six to eight kittens each time, meaning roughly 24 kittens per year. More importantly, kittens can begin reproducing as early as six months of age, causing their population to grow exponentially like a “chain reaction”. Based on this, a single female cat can multiply to around 11,800 within just three years.

Therefore, the most scientifically grounded and humane way to stop this “chain reaction” is through sterilization (spaying). Spaying not only prevents reproduction by removing the animal’s reproductive organs, but also helps regulate hormonal balance and reduces stress during mating periods. It can also have a positive impact on the animal’s lifespan.

ANIMAL CRUELTY IS PUNISHABLE IN THE UK 

In highly developed countries, animal welfare is strictly regulated by law. Globally, attitudes toward animals are changing, and even major international brands are moving away from using animal fur in their products.

For example, Germany strictly enforces its act on animal welfare, and owning a pet is considered a luxury. As a result, pet owners are required to pay an annual tax, which is then used to fund shelters for stray animals.

The Netherlands became the first country in the world to eliminate stray dogs from its streets. Instead of culling, it successfully implemented a nationwide “Catch-Neuter-Vaccinate-Return” (CNVR) program. Additionally, high taxes are imposed on purchasing purebred dogs from stores, while adopting animals from shelters comes with tax benefits—policies that have proven effective.

The United Kingdom, which passed the world’s first animal welfare law in 1822, has extensive experience in this field. In the UK, individuals who commit acts of animal cruelty can face up to five years in prison. Furthermore, they may be permanently banned from owning animals again.

In the United States, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) classifies animal cruelty as a crime against society, on par with serious offenses such as homicide and robbery. This is because international studies have shown that individuals who commit violence against animals are at high risk of posing threats to human life and health in the future.

In Switzerland, laws prohibit keeping social animals (such as dolphins or parrots) alone. Additionally, to own certain dog breeds, individuals must complete both theoretical and practical training and pass an exam to obtain a permit.

IF YOU CANNOT LOVE PETS FOR LIFE, DO NOT GET ONE  

Animals, like humans, feel pain, fear, joy, and suffering. They are living beings with the right to live peacefully, free from hunger, thirst, and violence. Unfortunately, in Mongolia, the concept of animal rights often remains limited to mere survival, and violations are widespread.

In particular, many households in ger districts fail to control the breeding of their pets and often abandon puppies and kittens on the streets, contributing significantly to the growing number of stray animals. It is also reported that during school holidays, the demand for buying pets increases sharply. In many cases, parents purchase animals simply to entertain their children or as a temporary distraction.

However, pets are not living toys meant for short-term amusement, but they require responsibility, care, and lifelong commitment, just like raising a child. If you are unsure whether you can provide food, love, and proper care for an animal throughout its entire life, the most responsible and compassionate decision is not to buy one at all.

On the other hand, government involvement remains insufficient. The capital city opened a temporary shelter for stray dogs and cats last June. As of last month, the facility was caring for over 120 dogs and around 20 cats. All animals underwent veterinary examinations, and 62 were sterilized.

However, compared to the approximately 160,000 stray animals in Ulaanbaatar, the capacity of this shelter is merely a drop in the ocean. Nationwide, there are only a handful of animal shelters in operation, highlighting the severe lack of infrastructure and the urgent need for stronger cooperation between the government and the private sector in this field.