Bhutan’s Prime Minister Asked People to Adopt Stray Dogs or Plant Trees as a Birthday Gift for Their King
Bhutan has a habit of surprising people, and this birthday request from its prime minister was no exception. Instead of gifts, the country’s king was linked to a call for everyday acts that would help the community and the environment.
King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck turned 40, and Prime Minister Lotay Tshering used the occasion to ask citizens to plant trees, adopt stray dogs, or help manage waste in their neighborhoods. The message fit Bhutan’s long-running focus on happiness, public well-being, and life in the Himalayas, where national priorities often look very different from those in other countries.
And the response showed just how seriously many people took the idea.
While the entire kingdom of Bhutan was celebrating their king’s birthday, the country’s PM asked the people for a gift
Bhutan’s King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck celebrated his 40th birthday. As a way of expressing gratitude to one’s country and king, the kingdom’s prime minister asked his countrymen to "plant a tree and care for it, adopt a stray dog, or commit to managing waste in your neighborhood." He also stated that "personal commitments such as these would be the best gift for His Majesty."
The prime minister’s Facebook post garnered many likes, and the people noted the PM’s gift "wish" and found it remarkable. "I do all of these things daily! Four dogs, many trees, and I always clean up beaches," a woman commented.
That kind of response made the post feel bigger than a birthday message.
It’s the same kind of gratitude as the stray dog who shows up every day with gifts for the woman who feeds him.
This is not the first similar initiative in the country - they are seriously devoted to taking care of the dogs on the streets.
Bhutan is also known for its substantial stray dog population, and the country started a nationwide program in 2009. Its goal was to neuter and spay its four-legged stray friends. With the help and supervision of Humane Society International, they conducted a Catch-Neuter-Vaccinate-Release campaign. The dogs were released the same day in the same place where they were found, with minimal disruption to their lives. From 2009 to 2016, more than 71,000 dogs were given the rabies vaccine and spayed or neutered.
For a heartbreaking “birthday” note left with an abandoned dog at Burger King, read this case of the family who walked away while she battled health issues.
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