Happy Tails, a non-profit youth organisation, aims to ensure the physical and psychological well-being of stray animals in different areas of Dhaka. Their journey started in 2019, when a bunch of school students noticed a distressed dog on the streets. They acted on it quickly, and their teachers helped them to take the dog to the nearest veterinarian. After the incident, Ayman Mustakim, founder of Happy Tails, teamed up with his friends to start their programmes of looking out for stray animals.

The organisation operates in Kalabagan, Lalmatia, Dhanmondi, Shyamoli, Mohammadpur and other areas of Dhaka South. They work on neutering and sanitising the animals. They especially look out for stray dogs that are underfed or in need of medical attention for any signs of rabies, pica, parvovirus and leptospirosis. Their team also ensures that these dogs go back to their territories and receive proper medications and food, at least until they recover.

Happy Tails volunteers at a veterinarian’s clinic with rescued animals.

Happy Tails also organises campaigns about protection of animal rights and training courses for volunteers and the general masses, as well as fund raising events for the animals that require medical attention.

In August, Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) announced a plan for relocating 30,000 stray dogs of the city to other districts, to contain the spread of rabies around Nagar Bhaban, Dhanmondi and other areas. However, DSCC started off the programme under a verbal order and moved 15 stray dogs on an experimental basis from Dhaka to the Matuail landfill.

Several organisations and animal lovers protested the authorities' decision. They demanded vaccination and sterilisation instead of relocation of the dogs, citing that the decision goes against the Animal Welfare Act 2019, which prohibits killing stray dogs or removing them from their habitats. Happy Tails volunteers participated in the protests. Noted actor Jaya Ahsan and two animal welfare organisations collectively submitted a writ petition as a public interest litigation to the High Court, requesting it to stay the DSCC's decision to relocate the dogs.

"Neutering of stray dogs is already happening in different areas of Dhaka. Relocating them will not solve anything. This city belongs to them, as much as it belongs to us," says Ayman. With a mission to spread positivity and fight for the well-being of animals, Happy Tails marches on with their committed members and volunteers.