Citizens in Sikkim hold candle rally to protect street dogs, demand humane solutions

Animal lovers and concerned citizens in Sikkim gathered today for a peaceful candle rally to raise awareness about the welfare of street dogs. The event, starting at 4 PM, followed a route from Zero Point to MG Marg in Gangtok, with participants carrying candles and banners calling for compassion and humane treatment of stray animals.

Organizers stressed that shelters or pounds are not the solution, calling them “death holes” where many animals suffer or die. The rally aimed to urge authorities to adopt humane approaches such as vaccination, sterilization, and community care rather than removing dogs from streets.

In Sikkim, where stray dogs are part of the urban and rural landscape, local residents expressed strong support for the rally.