Main news content: In Ethiopia’s rapidly modernizing capital, Addis Ababa, a humanitarian crisis is unfolding for an estimated 200,000 stray dogs, who face diminishing spaces to hide as urbanization brings no-pet policies in new apartments. Feven Melese, a 29-year-old music graduate and dedicated animal rights activist, has emerged as a key lifeline for these abandoned animals. She operates a rare, makeshift shelter for 40 dogs while feeding approximately 700 strays every week on the streets and has successfully rehomed over 300 dogs in the past two years. Melese and her volunteers are on a mission to challenge the pervasive societal view in Ethiopia that dogs are merely “protectors working for humans,” instead advocating for them to be recognized as pets with emotional needs.
The growing stray dog population presents a serious public health concern, with veterinarian Dr. Alazar Ayele emphasizing that rabies remains a major threat in the capital, and resources for humane control measures are severely limited. The government has faced criticism for previously resorting to poisoning thousands of strays ahead of major events. In response to the escalating issue, an Addis Ababa city official, Melese Anshebo, announced plans for a dog registration and vaccination exercise to enforce owner responsibility, though he cautioned that dogs showing disease symptoms would still be “forced to eliminate.”Melese and her fellow activists are continuing their advocacy for coordinated, humane alternatives, including mass vaccinations, neutering programs, and incentivized adoption. Her efforts are vital in a culture where many owners abandon female dogs to avoid the responsibility of reproduction or abandon pets entirely when they become an inconvenience, highlighting a fundamental “lack of reciprocity” toward animals seen primarily for their protective benefits.
