A RESIDENT from Stow-on-the-Wold is hoping to save the lives of animals across Nepal with an ambitious new project.

Molly Birchmore, 21, has been living in Nepal for the last six months, volunteering at an eco-lodge, called Tiger Tops, which has 11 resident elephants.

Since she arrived in Nepal, Molly became alarmed by the number of stray dogs in the villages nearby.

“When I walked around the village and chatting with locals every day I would hear how a dog had got one of their chicken in the night,” she said.

“Local people have small holdings rather than huge farms and so need every rupee they invest in their livestock to be profitable in the long run.

“Stray dogs, pose a threat to livestock and also the wildlife that resides in the national park that the villages border.

“More than that it’s the threat to the wildlife.

“I have heard many a story about dogs attacking jungle cats nests and catching mongoose which are vital to the already fragile ecosystem of the park.”

Through Tiger Tops, Molly has teamed up with the UK charity Himalayan Animal Rescue Trust (HART) to run a mass neutering and anti-rabies vaccination clinic from the lodge.

It is hoped the clinic will treat 200 dogs from the surrounding villages.

“We have completed the census of the dogs in the area; there are so many puppies” explained Molly.

“Gorgeous as they are, we really need to get control of the population.

“Thankfully most are quite tame and don’t have any aliments that we can’t easily treat.

“HART have done some amazing work throughout Nepal and I am so pleased to have them on board.”

Molly is hoping to raise £3,000 to fund the clinic.

If the money is successfully raised, it will mean the clinic can be run at no expense to HART and any excess funds can be donated to them to buy more resources for future clinics throughout Nepal.

To donate to the cause, visit chuffed.org/project/hartdogclinic

Alternatively cheques can be made out to Molly Birchmore, 16 Sopwith Road, Upper Rissington, Gloucestershire, GL54 2NS.