Overview

• Shayam, an eight-year-old orange-and-white dog, accompanies Babu Tamang on every cycle rickshaw ride in Thamel and often earns extra tips and affection from tourists.
• With peak summer temperatures, Shayam retreats beneath the rickshaw to find shade and frequently picks up oil stains from its chains.
• Tamang gives Shayam regular baths to remove chain oil despite the dog’s reluctance and occasional playful resistance.
• Nepali rules prohibit animals on public buses, so Tamang leaves Shayam in a garage with a mechanic friend when he returns to his home village.
• Their daily partnership underscores how human–animal bonds can boost livelihoods and personal resilience amid Kathmandu’s urban challenges.