Discovery Highlight Team

This Dog Shelter is amazing. The Dogs are kept clean and well fed. The care takers are very friendly and knowable. Would be great having more institutions like this in Shan State.

As a dog lover, I was interested in seeing if any shelters existed for the many street dogs in the Inle Lake region. A bit of research brought me to meet the kind hearted and entrepreneurial Nandar, who started the Discovery Highlight Team Dog Shelter just outside of Nyaungshwe. The shelter is currently the only refuge for sick and injured dogs in the area and houses about 300 dogs. Along with a handful of dedicated local volunteers and some land donated by the adjacent monastery, they are working to create a safe and loving environment for street dogs. The shelter is located on the same road as the Htet Eain Gu Cave and Monastery (about 50 meters past the monastery volleyball pitch on the left hand side), just listen for the dogs. If you're not very accustomed to interacting with dogs, it may be a bit overwhelming at first as they are excited when new guests arrive. However, after a few minutes, they settle down and like all dogs around the world, they just want your love and belly scratches. The dogs are mostly free to roam, but some injured or sick ones have their own enclosures. It's clear that Nandar and her team are doing their best to care for and protect these good boys and girls by lobbying with local government and working with the community to get medical and food donations. If you're a dog lover, the shelter is well worth a visit! Nandar also runs the Active & Authentic bike tour shop in Nyaungshwe and 10% of all her proceeds go towards the shelter. If you're interested in learning more, stop by the shop in town and ask for her if you'd like to make a donation.