In Reply to: Encounters with Street Dogs? posted by bethpegs on Friday, 2. October 2009 at 08:42 Bali Time:
It doesn't matter how you feel or go about your project.Balinese street dogs will be as they are until the locals are educated in the proper treatment of dogs.Few care for their dogs.If the authorities culled every street dog the island would be a cleaner,safer & more enjoyable place.Seeing a dead dog makes one feel that a least it doesn't have to endure disease,illness,scrap scavenging,dodging motor vehicles,having to be encouraged to stop laying on the road where the breeze of passing vehicles makes it cooler.They are a bloody nuisance & should be got rid of.Don't know why I bother with this myself but there will be plenty who share my views & many won't.
If anyone thinks that generally the Balinese will take notice of anyone else on these types of issues forget it.The blowpipe culling was humane in my opinion.Like a jab before an operation then sleep.
To get rid of the dog problem you get rid of the dogs.Then maybe start educating on animal welfare.Street dogs are suffering.
I have owned previously dogs in Bali & treated them as well as I did in my own country only to see them get neglected when I was away working.Dog food costs money.Why feed a dog if you can't make money out of it was the attitude of the now divorced Balinese wife in the north of the island about 7 years ago.
I fed a street dog & it became our watchdog for 2 years more recently. Bloke up the street brought some anti-parasite liquid from overseas for him & he was doing well.He was taught to sit & shake hands before a feed much to the amusement of the locals.They had an English speaking dog in their neighbourhood.Became the best fighter & was even scoring the odd shot away.One morning I came back from shopping & the little bride was upset because the authorities had threatened her with a 5,000,000 fine or jail if she wanted to keep the dog that had allegedly bitten 6 people.This claim was crap.He copped a dart & no doubt the executioner collected a bounty.
BAWA does a great job I'm sure but to give every street dog a good life is practically impossible.
How many people see a festering,stinking,crippled mut & say 'how shocking.Should be put down'.Balinese don't see it that way.
Hope this is of some help.You will surely get more info on the way others feel.