Behind
all the beauties of Bali, a sad-tale of a dog’s life is looming.
Without a doubt stray dogs are quite evident in this island. Bali dogs
are by nature free roaming animals that have wandered on the island for
thousands of years. Facts show that around 90% of the population of dogs
in Bali actually has somewhere to which they belong to. However, it is
not the same as the kind of belongingness of a pet to an owner in the
Western sense. That is, dogs may be present in that place but the people
living there are not their owners.
Before
rabies came, Bali had one of the highest populations of dogs in the
world. There were somewhere around 800,000 dogs before the rabies
outbreak. In 2008, Bali experienced an outbreak of rabies which has
since caused a large number of human fatalities. The Bali dogs’
population is not the only problem, but the escalation of rabies-related
deaths as well. Rabies problems coupled with myths that Bali street
dogs are rabid, aggressive and feral, the government saw it as a threat
in their tourism industry because no tourist would visit a
rabies-infested environment. If this problem continues, Bali might lose
an estimate of 60-70% in the economy sector.
Efforts
have been made to eradicate and to solve this problem. Potential
community-driven interventions for optimising rabies control such as
vaccination took place. In 2015, sadly some provincial government
resolved to dog culling. Culling is controlling the size of animals by
killing them with the main goal is to lessen the number of stray dogs.
But, is this the right thing to do?
This
act triggered opposition from animal welfare groups and international
experts. They argued that merciless dog culling is not only vicious but
it is also not the right answer for rabies prevention. Figures revealed
that the number of dogs dropped immensely to approximately 150,000.
Dog-meat trade together with culling and natural reasons of death
presented a big problem to the Bali dogs’ existence.
Contrary
to what is already known, Bali dogs are highly intelligent animals.
They are also capable of learning appropriate behaviour and interactions
with humans. They make wonderful pets because, like other breeds, they
are loyal and loving. They just need to learn to trust humans and, like
any dog, they need to be treated with respect and affection. These fur
balls’ lives are endangered because of some humans’ unwise decision. Dog
culling is definitely NOT the answer. Vaccination and adopting these
pups are more effective and humane ways in solving this menace.
Now, the question is: “Are we turning a blind eye on this?”
A group of individuals certainly didn’t turn a blind-eye on this. Lucky Dog Rescue
is one of a non-profit dog rescue foundations dedicated in protecting
the neglected and forsaken dogs. Claudia Mingardo started this project
because she noticed that Bali dogs were treated even more horribly than
they are treated at this time. In years past, one would often find the
bodies of dead dogs when walking on the beach. These dogs had been
poisoned or set afire or tortured for ‘fun’ with their legs wired
together and other heinous acts done to them. The hundreds of dogs that
roamed the beach and streets were unfed and not given clean water, and
most suffered from life threatening skin conditions.
Impossible
for Claudia to ignore such cruelty and injustice, so she began to make
action by feeding these dogs and administering to their injuries and
appalling skin conditions, as well as having them sterilised. As time
went by, her compassion for these forsaken animals became a passion that
replenished her heart and spirit. It is a pure joy!
Up
to this day, Claudia houses 15 dogs while at the same time feeds and
oversees the needs of an additional 75 of more dogs who live on the
streets, which all of them neutered. She spends almost 12 hours each day
– seven days a week – caring for these 75 or more feral dogs and
feeding them twice daily. She also spends several hours each day at
various veterinary clinics, including their own clinic, Central Veterinary Clinic,
overseeing whatever health care is necessary to help these beautiful
and innocent animals who are apparently traumatised and fearful of
humans.
Funded
by herself and the donations of a few like-minded animal lovers,
Claudia believes that Lucky Dog Rescue foundation will continue to
evolve step by step, dog by dog. As a firm believer that ‘good intention
yields good results’, she will keep on administering to dogs in need
and to expand its rescue services, including send them to worthy fur
parents by means of adoption programme. At this time, Lucky Dog Rescue
has 2 part-time paid staff who prepare the large quantity of food
required to feed 90 dogs twice each day, as well as to walk and clean
the dogs.
Bali
is a transient island with a care-free attitude, so dependability is
one of the biggest challenges. People have good intentions, but good
intentions without follow-through does not feed or care for the many
dogs that require being fed and cared for every day without fail. This
is where we come in the picture. Let us bring a new chapter to that
dog’s tale of hope. We can simply start by treating all dogs with
respect and kindness, or providing them healthy food and fresh water.
Alternatively, signing up as a volunteer is also an option. Spare time
an hour or two to assist in any way possible; to feed or walk the dogs.
As Mother Teresa said, “You may not be able to help all dogs, but you are able to help one dog.” Every bit of our action is valuable. If we could not help them, then who will? After all, we are their only best friends.
Courtesy of Lucky Dog Rescue
This article is also published at NOW! Bali Magazine
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