Topaz was relieved of his testicles on the kitchen table last Friday morning. Dr Listriani, one of Bali’s most popular veterinarians, did the deed under a green sheet at one end of the young dog. I held his paw and murmured into his slumbering ear at the other.
It was a perfect opportunity to interview the busy vet about the state of Bali’s dog population. Dr Listriani is constantly on the run and this was the first time in over 3 years I had her almost undivided attention. Not only does she have a busy practice at her clinic, she also runs the Yudisthira Foundation that looks after Bali’s street dogs.
“
The Balinese are definitely taking better care of their dogs than they were 5 years ago,” she reported, slicing away deftly as I averted my gaze. Wayan, on the other hand, was taking a deep interest in the proceedings. “My practice used to be 75% Westerners. Now half the practice is middle-income Balinese, about 50% with purebred dogs and the others with Bali dogs.”
Awareness in Indonesia began about 12 years ago in Jakarta and Surabaya, when large veterinary clinics opened to provide a high quality of care for local pets. Bali is a few years behind, but becoming a vet is now a more popular option for young people. The Balinese are becoming more aware of looking after their dogs through Yudisthira Foundation education programs, television and the internet, and promotions by dog food companies.
The Yudisthira Foundation was established 6 years ago to address the shocking condition of Bali’s stray dogs. Readers who have been in Bali awhile will vividly remember the plight of the many starving, mangy and miserable dogs all over the island. That situation has changed visibly as the Foundation’s work begins to make itself felt.
The Foundation now has two mobile clinics -– one dedicated to assisting ownerless dogs on Bali’s beaches, streets and tourist areas, and the other a field clinic that visits villages. The main work is sterilizing the animals and treating them for skin conditions and parasites. The educational aspect evolves concurrently. The field clinic will visit any community that asks it for assistance. If a dog problem is observed by the Foundation, it will offer to help the banjar.
Since 1998, the Yudisthira Foundation has sterilized almost 6,000 dogs. As a result, there are now many fewer ownerless dogs on the streets and the incidence of abandoned female pups has dropped considerably. “Most of the work has been done in Denpasar, Badung, Klungkung and Gianyar,” says Lis. Topaz’ lashes flutter and she orders another syringe of anesthetic to be drawn by her efficient assistant in case it is needed. “We don’t go further because we don’t have enough money to make overnight visits at this point.” Funding for the project comes from the World Society for the Protection of Animals, the Humane Society International, International Fund of Australia and the Bali Street Dog Foundation, but money is always tight.
“
When the foundation began its work, we found many female pups abandoned in the streets,” Lis called for the sutures and began to stitch. Wayan was riveted. “Now there are far fewer and when we find a pup, we can often rehabilitate her. The Foundation has rented 4 are as a rehabilitation centre, where we have space for up to 25 dogs. These pups are brought to full health, vaccinated and sterilized before going to their new homes.” The Bali Advertiser features these puppies regularly in the Pet Parade column. But the Foundation usually catches, treats and releases the dogs. Bali dogs differ in temperament and DNA from Western dogs. They can be difficult to train but make loyal and gentle pets if well treated. Their instinct is to run freely and they don’t do well in confinement. I’ve noticed this in Kalypso; even with my large garden, she always seems disconcerted to find herself stopped by a fence.
Lis has had additional veterinarian training in the US and Australia and it shows; the professionalism of the surgery is impressive. Newly graduated vets in Bali are required to intern for six months with a veterinarian who has been in practice for at least 6 years, which is slowly raising the quality of young vets in step with public education about dog care. The Yudisthira Foundation also has a program through which Balinese vets can intern with the street work and field clinic, and after two months of training the young vets are able to sterilize up to 8 dogs a day using modern procedures.
After Lis and her assistant had collected their equipment and left, Wayan told me how a male dog was sterilized in her village. “Someone picks it up by the hind legs, and someone else cuts it with a knife.”
I blanched. “No stitches? No anesthetic?”
“
No. It’s very fast.”
“
But it must be very painful.”
Wayan looked thoughtful. “They scream and scream,” she agreed, patting Topaz of whom she was very fond. “Maybe this way is better.”
If you’d like to support the Yayasan Yudisthira, please call 0361 742 4048 or check the website at www.yamp.com/balidogs
