A rickshaw driver and his dog are winning hearts in Nepal's Kathmandu
But Babu Tamang's rickshaw comes with an added twist: a wagging tale and tufts of orange and white fur that delight passengers, with many leaving an extra tip for the hardworking man and some ear scratches for his eight-year-old pup.
Tamang, 57, has always been fond of dogs.
Two years ago, he was crushed when his wife told him a leopard killed his 10-year-old dog, Putle, in his home village, a six-hour drive from the Nepali capital. After mourning his faithful companion, he stumbled upon a rough-looking dog in a garage where he parks his cycle rickshaw.
It was love at first woof.
'He never leaves me alone,' Tamang says with a smile. 'Living in this city, away from my family, Shyam has become my closest companion.'
Shyam, a name for the Hindu god Krishna, goes to work with his human every day. When Tamang gets a passenger, Shyam trails behind the rickshaw, drawing smiles and pets from passersby. As soon as the ride is over and the fare paid, Tamang signals for the pooch to hop onto the rickshaw.
Now that it's peak summer, Shyam seeks shade beneath the rickshaw during the midday heat. 'He gets oil stains from the chains, so I have to give him a bath,' Tamang says laughingly. 'But he doesn't like it, and we often get into a little fight over it.'
Tamang shares a small apartment with two other rickshaw drivers who accept Shyam's constant presence.
The only time he is separated from his canine best friend is when he visits his village.
'Dogs are not allowed on public buses, so I have to leave him behind in the garage with a mechanic friend. It makes me sad,' Tamang says.
As the sun sets and the lights come on at the end of a long workday, Tamang's rickshaw slowly makes its way back with reliable Shyam following closely.
'He's not just a dog, he's my family.'
___
This is a documentary photo story curated by AP photo editors.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Toronto Sun
a day ago
- Toronto Sun
Storm Floris batters Scotland with 145 km/h winds, disrupts travel and festivals
Published Aug 04, 2025 • 1 minute read Members of the public are turned away from Edinburgh Castle as the site is closed to visitors due to high winds, in Scotland, Monday Aug. 4, 2025, as weather warnings are coming into force with Storm Floris expected to cause severe travel disruption to road, air and ferry services, and close bridges. Photo by Jane Barlow / PA via AP LONDON — Authorities in Scotland cancelled trains, closed parks and warned people to tie down backyard trampolines as a rare summer storm brought potentially destructive winds to northern Britain. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account The U.K.'s Meteorological Office on Monday issued an 'amber' wind warning in Scotland for Storm Floris, meaning there is a potential risk to lives and property, especially from large waves in coastal areas. Network Rail Scotland said wind gusts of up to 90 m.p.h. (145 km/h) had felled trees across lines and damaged overhead wires. The wind and heavy rain are hitting at the busiest time of year for tourism, with hundreds of thousands of people flocking to the Edinburgh Fringe and other arts festivals. The Edinburgh Military Tattoo, one of the city's biggest tourist draws, said it was cancelling Monday's scheduled outdoor performance by massed ranks of bagpipers and drummers at Edinburgh Castle. Train companies cancelled services across much of Scotland and some ferry crossings were also scrapped. Floris, named by weather authorities, also could hit parts of Northern Ireland, Wales and northern England, the Met Office said. Scottish government minister Angela Constance urged people to be careful if traveling and 'consider this a winter journey as opposed to a summer journey. 'Please make sure you've got warm clothes, food, water, plenty of fuel and that your mobile phone is charged up,' she said. Train operator ScotRail urged 'anyone with garden equipment, such as tents, trampolines or furniture, to secure items so that they don't blow onto the tracks and interfere with lineside equipment.' Sunshine Girls Celebrity Sex Files Relationships Columnists
Winnipeg Free Press
a day ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
Trains are canceled and events called off as a major storm hits Scotland
LONDON (AP) — Authorities in Scotland canceled trains, closed parks and warned people to tie down backyard trampolines as a rare summer storm brought potentially destructive winds to northern Britain. The U.K.'s Meteorological Office issued an 'amber' wind warning in Scotland for Storm Floris, meaning there is a potential risk to lives and property, especially from large waves in coastal areas. The agency said wind gusts could reach 85 mph (137 kph), accompanied by heavy rain. The storm is hitting at the busiest time of year for tourism, with hundreds of thousands of people flocking to the Edinburgh Fringe and other arts festivals. The Edinburgh Military Tattoo, one of the city's biggest tourist draws, said it was cancelling Monday's scheduled outdoor performance by massed ranks of bagpipers and drummers at Edinburgh Castle. Train companies canceled services across much of Scotland and some ferry crossing also were scrapped. Floris, named by weather authorities, also could hit parts of Northern Ireland, Wales and northern England, the Met Office said. Scottish government minister Angela Constance urged people to be careful if traveling and 'consider this a winter journey as opposed to a summer journey. 'Please make sure you've got warm clothes, food, water, plenty of fuel and that your mobile phone is charged up,' she said. Train operator ScotRail urged 'anyone with garden equipment, such as tents, trampolines or furniture, to secure items so that they don't blow onto the tracks and interfere with lineside equipment.'
Toronto Star
3 days ago
- Toronto Star
Pope thrills hundreds of thousands of young Catholics at Holy Year youth festival
ROME (AP) — Hundreds of thousands of young Catholics poured into a vast field on Rome's outskirts Saturday for the weekend highlight of the Vatican's 2025 Holy Year: an evening vigil, outdoor slumber party and morning Mass celebrated by Pope Leo XIV that marks his first big encounter with the next generation of Catholics. Leo arrived by helicopter as the sun set over the Tor Vergata field and immediately boarded his open-topped popemobile for long loops through the flag-waving, cheering pilgrims. They had already been partying there for hours, setting up campsites for the night as misting trucks and water cannons spritzed them to cool them down from the 30C (85F) temperatures.
