It is also important to recognize that memories of these tragic events impact most elements of the city. Nowhere do these memories come to the surface more clearly nor are met with more defiance than at the pagodas (a pagoda is known locally as a "wat"). The pagodas serve not only as religious institutions but also as community centers. Their decadent stupas reach above the dull colors of the city that surrounds them. The buildings are often painted brightly and, of course, the monks, in their orange robes add to the vibrant advertisement of life. Beyond monks, the pagodas house abandoned children and elderly. Entire communities exist within their walls. They often have an elementary school attached to the grounds. Pagodas near universities provide free housing for students from the countryside. They also serve as the only place most Cambodians feel comfortable abandoning animals.
In fear of karma, people bring sick or dying animals to the pagodas instead of euthanizing. They dump unwanted puppies and kittens. Some people fear black animals, believing they are bad people reincarnated, so black puppies, kittens and older black animals often end up at the pagodas. Physical deformities, including missing limbs or extra rows of teeth, are sometimes considered bad luck as well. Dogs, cats, and also pigs and cows with such defects are also delivered to the pagodas.
While the pagodas take in animals, they have no resources to help them. If an animal is sick or dying, someone will occasionally put a cloth down to comfort their last moments but no medical care is available. The animals are fed leftover scraps from what the humans eat, usually vegetarian rice dishes but occasionally meat, depending on what has been brought to the pagoda. Each pagoda is unique and some work harder than others to care for the animals, but generally the pagoda animals are malnourished and sickly. Animals are not vaccinated; many die while still puppies and kittens. Rabies is an active threat to both animals and humans. Stray dogs that wander outside the pagoda walls can cause traffic accidents, often lethal due to the ubiquity of motorbikes.
There are many foreign NGOs in Phnom Penh to help the human population gain footing but there are currently no viable animal rescue groups. This is where Nicky Scales comes into the picture.