Queries about Bali dogs tend to come in two forms. The first, “Why are there so many strays on the streets?”
The second is “What’s that cute local dog breed that we see all the time?”
We’re aiming to help you learn everything you want to know about Bali dogs and we’ve got answers to both questions to help you distinguish a stray dog from a noble family compound guard.
About Stray Dogs In Bali
Why Are There So Many Stray Dogs In Bali?
One of the real issues from a Western perspective, in Bali, is that dogs aren’t “owned” in the sense that they are in the West. The Balinese community tends to allow dogs to hang around if they are useful.
In fact, it’s estimated that nearly 90% of street dogs in Bali have somewhere they call home to go to.
However, the 10% of dogs that are stray grow daily due to a lack of government support for a sterilization program.
Sadly, animal abuse is not unknown either despite being anathema to Hindu and Bali culture.
What Is The Role Of A Dog In Balinese Society?
Dogs in Bali, like other dogs around the world, are valued for their ability to protect people and property.
The dogs on a compound will bark warnings, attack intruders and fight off unwanted pests like snakes which might attack someone’s chickens and steal their eggs.
The Bali dog is also an informal part of the waste disposal chain in Bali and they devour food scraps which might otherwise be left to rot and fester in the heart.
Yes, unfortunately, they do. Since the year 2008, over 140 people have died of rabies in Bali. This is a real shame as up to that point, Bali had been entirely rabies-free.
If you are bitten by a dog in Bali, you must get rabies shots. Even if you have been vaccinated against rabies previously.
Getting these shots is not that easy and it can be expensive, so, it’s best not to get bitten in the first place.
However, you must be aware that rabies is 100% fatal after symptoms start to manifest. If you’re not vaccinated by then, you will die.
How To Deal With Aggressive Street Dogs In Bali?
Many street dogs are pretty friendly, but if you do encounter an aggressive dog, it’s best not to get bitten. Try:
Staying calm, while walking (backwards) away from the dog
If you cannot back away, freeze in place stop moving forward, crouch down a little to make your profile less intimidating
Avoid eye contact – this is a dominance challenge in dog body language
Ask a passer-by for help – a friendly local will normally send the dog on its way in a heartbeat for you
And remember never step over a dog, or rush towards one, this is an invitation for them to bite you.
Dog Rescue Centers In Balli
There are three main reputable dog rescue centres in Bali, though there are many more charities involved in the business of trying to reduce street dogs on the island.
The Bali Animal Welfare Association (BAWA)
The Bali Animal Welfare Association or BAWA has been operating on the island since 2007.
It has one of the best-funded approaches to animal welfare and operates free vet services, adoption programs, rabies programs, and street feeding programs.
The Bali Bible
This is one of the local travel sites but it’s worth a mention in this context as it raises a large part of the operating costs for BAWA.
They also offer education regarding Bali dog issues to tourists.
Bali Dog Adoption & Rehabilitation Centre (BARC)
This wonderful organization is run in partnership between an Australian and an Indonesian non-profit.
They run the best sterilization program for street dogs in Bali and have a clinic where any Bali dog may recieve care for a low price or for free.
Their adoption programs are excellent and they have a formal adoption center too.
Bali Dog Adoption & Rehabilitation Centre (BARC ) is a first-rate effort.
Bali Pet Crusaders
This little charity was created by expats who were appalled at the issues facing cats and dogs in Bali.
Bali Pet Crusaders (BPC ) now runs an excellent sterilization mobile unit to help reduce the volume of stray animals on the streets of Bali.
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About The Kintamani Dog The Most Recognizable Of Bali’s Dogs
The local ball of fur that seems to turn up everywhere in Bali, is the adorable Kintamani dog.
Brief History Of The Kintamani Dog
This breed has been around in Bali since 1400 or so! It is a hybrid between the original Balinese breed and a Chinese chow chow.
The name of this breed was originally just kuluk gembrong in Bahasa, which means “bushy dog”.
The Characteristics Of Kintamani Dogs
These Kintamani dogs make amazing guard dogs and can be identified easily by their physical characteristics: thick fur, sturdy, muscular body, fluffy and curved tail, pointed stand-up ears, and white, black or brown coat.
It’s worth noting that they are very territorial creatures and are given to attack intruders with no notice.
Thus, it’s best to only interact with these dogs if their owner is present and says you can do so.
FAQs
It is against the law to bring a dog or a cat to Bali. This is to prevent rabies from being spread around the islands of Indonesia.
There is no exception to this rule for long-term residents, either.
Why Are There So Many Street Dogs In Bali?
Unfortunately, many Balinese families are poor. This means that the dog populations tend to run out of control as the owners can’t afford to take part in a sterilization project and there are often unwanted puppies lying around.
With almost no humane population control, the puppies then tend to take to the streets because the families can’t afford to feed them, either.
What Is The Most Common Dog Breed In Bali?
The most common dog breed in Bali is the local Kintamani breed. You can find out more about this breed above.
No. Unfortunately, the same laws that prevent people from bringing a dog to Bali also prevent you from taking a dog out of Bali.
There are no exceptions to this rule. Not even if the dog is healthy, vaccinated and not going very far.
How Do You Deal With Stray Dogs In Bali?
It’s best to leave stray dogs in Bali alone unless they appear to be hungry and you want to give them some food.
Should You Feed Stray Dogs In Bali?
While you can feed a stray dog in Bali, it’s best to talk to a rescue charity and see if you can influence the dog’s long-term welfare.
Feeding a dog can ensure that it becomes dependent on people and then it may become angry when the next visitor doesn’t feed it.
Can You Rescue Dogs From Bali?
You can certainly volunteer at a charity or make a financial donation to help rescue dogs in Bali but you cannot take a dog out of Bali.
Where Can I Adopt A Dog In Bali?
You can contact one of the charities above if you want to adopt a dog in Bali. Be aware though, that you may only have a dog if you are a long-term resident of Bali as dogs cannot be taken out of Bali.
Is There A Dog Meat Trade In Bali?
Sadly, yes. There is a dog meat trade in Bali. This is despite the fact that the Hindu majority does not eat dogs and, in fact, the consumption of dogs is against the laws of that religion.
Officially, the trade in dog meat was banned in Bali in 2018, but sadly, the practice still continues and it’s estimated that up to 70,000 dogs a year are consumed as food in Bali.
Final Thoughts On The Bali Dog And Animal Welfare In Bali
A Bali dog might be a beloved pet or a street dog and there’s really no way to be perfectly sure which is which.
If you come across a stray dog, it’s fine to pet it or feed it if it’s friendly enough but you should really talk to one of the charities above if you are concerned for its welfare.
You must not take a Bali dog off of the street as the dog owners may come look for it. Not all local dogs are Bali street dogs and you don’t want to snatch a beloved pet, do you?
