In Reply to: Encounters with Street Dogs? posted by bethpegs on Friday, 2. October 2009 at 08:42 Bali Time:
Bali street dogs.
Many take themselves to the beach each morning to socialise, play, fight and mix with other "up market" ex pats dogs where allowed.
In this environment, they can be friendly and playful, but once the playtime is finished, and they return to the gangs, they again become territorial and can be threatening.
I too can often be seen wandering the streets with a half eaten chicken in my hand looking for receptive dogs (or for that matter cats)
One of the obvious differences between "Western" treatment of dogs is the way in which puppies are looked after.
We are inclined to treat them like a baby, but the Balinese have a much harsher approach, allowing children to pick them up by one paw and swing them about the place or drag them down the road like a toy.
The puppy over the road from KTH was nicknamed football for good reason!!
If I am around, the kids are careful, but if out of view I often hear the yelps and have to hand out the warnings that if caught, the kid will become the football!!
I get very strange looks when returning from Carrefour with puppy biscuits, dog food and flea powder.
"How much you pay?" is the question, and I get strange looks when I explain that I spent maybe $8 on stuff, especially given that the dogs or cats are not even mine.
The dog scene has improved over the years thankfully, and this is no doubt due to some pretty unsettling but neccessary actions on behalf of both local officials and the mostly O/seas funded welfare organisations.
For me, street dogs are very much part of the Bali scene, and I know the odd (very odd)Kuta Kowboy who would agree with me there.