Raising Awareness Now

Awareness-raising and education are the most important components in addressing animal welfare issues in Bali. Because of poor understanding of animal welfare issues, there is a high degree of suffering in Bali's animal population. Dogs are chained up in the sun without water, puppies abandoned, injured animals left to slowly die, dogs are poisoned, beaten and stabbed to death, and animals are not protected from injury or disease.

BAWA delivers daily seminars on animal welfare in local primary schools, and in international schools on request. It has recently launched a novel program to educate Balinese children about environmental issues and the appropriate care of companion animals. With a focus on 10 and 11 year old children in an initial two schools near Ubud, a puppy adoption program has been announced in which participating children, with parental permission, will adopt a puppy from the BAWA clinic. A team of vets inspects each home to ensure the puppy will be safe and well cared for. Every puppy is checked at home weekly and will have a check up at the BAWA clinic every month. Vaccinations, sterilization, check ups, medical supplies and some food will be provided for all the adopted animals. At the end of 6 months the dogs will be assessed by the vets and the child that has completed all the requirements to the highest standard wins a prize.

Children not directly involved in the program will compete for their school through writing stories and drawing pictures about the BAWA animal welfare program, their own family animals or the adopted dogs. Teachers will choose the best and make a book that will be presented to BAWA for publication.

By bringing the animal welfare awareness program into Balinese homes, monitored by Balinese vets and encouraged by Balinese teachers, it is hoped that the concepts will be better understood and adopted at the community level. A forthcoming book about animal welfare created by the children themselves will have an impact on other communities.