Wondering how to help stray dogs in Bali? Here's all you need to know, from what to do, who to contact, and the best vets and rescue organisations you need on speed-dial.
Countless tourists come to Bali and instantly notice the overwhelming number of dogs roaming the streets in poor condition. Everyone wants to help, but very few know where to start when it comes to taking action and rescuing a stray dog. So, to give you all the tools you need to easily help a dog on the streets in Bali, this complete guide is here to empower you to make a change. The majority of the time, the costs will be minuscule to give a street dog a great life. Below is a step-by-step guide on the steps you can take to make a difference.
HOW TO HELP STREET DOGS IN BALI
Step 1: Getting a sick dog to the vet
When it comes to getting a dog to the vet, this can be tricky. First you’ll need to assess the dog’s condition from a safe distance, ensuring it’s approachable and non-aggressive. You’ll also want to check for signs of injury or illness, as this will help determine the urgency of the situation. If you’re confident the dog is friendly and will safely get into a car, you can find a dog-friendly driver (like Paw Taxi) or even try GrabPet – a trial service from Grab that we hope stays around.
Most street dogs, however, have never worn a collar or leash, nor have they been driven in a car. So if the dog shows signs of fear, aggression, or symptoms of a dangerous illness, you’ll want to source the help of experienced dog catchers and transporters as a much safer way to transport the dog to the nearest vet.
Call ahead: Here are some of the best vets in Bali:
Ubud: Ibu Jeru, p. +62 812 3695 9493
Ubud: Sunset Vet Ubud, p. +62 811 398 4179
Denpasar: Doctor Listriani, +62 851 0044 9306
Ubud: Saka Vet Care, p. +62 895 3737 00888
Kuta: Sunset Vet Kuta, p. +62 812 3208 1334
Denpasar, Canggu, Seminyak & Sanur area: Dokter Hewan Badung, p. +62 812 301 8489
Dog transportation services in Bali:
Paw Taxi (Only for friendly dogs), p. +62 812 3940 3149
Nana Prayoga (anywhere in Bali, cost depends on travel distance), +62 8133 7422 297
Dog catchers in Bali:
Dog catching: Approx. IDR 150,000 to IDR 200,000 per dog
Transportation to nearest vet: Approx. IDR 150,000
NOTE: If you take a dog to the vet or away from where you found it, please ensure you return it to the same location after treatment. Bali dogs establish strict territories, so returning the dog to a different location puts it at a high risk.
HOW TO HELP STREET DOGS IN BALI
Step 2: Sterilisation
Sterilisation is the most important step to take to help bring the street dog situation to a manageable level, all by decreasing the number of dogs pumping out litter after litter. One unsterilised female dog can (and does!) give birth to anywhere between 4 and 20+ dogs in its lifetime. Unsterilised males can impregnate multiple unsterilised females every year. When this happens, the number of homeless dogs compounds year after year, and the situation quickly gets out of hand. This is why we desperately need the help of the community (including you!) to help tackle this.
How much does a sterilisation cost in Bali?
It costs approximately IDR 250,000 to IDR 2,000,000 to sterilise a male dog in Bali.
It costs approximately IDR 300,000 to IDR 2,500,000 to sterilise a female dog in Bali.
How long does it take to sterilise a dog in Bali?
The sterilisation procedure takes only 30 minutes to one hour, plus a few hours for the anaesthesia to wear off. After final check-up and a strong dose of antibiotics to avoid any infection, the dog can be dropped back to where you found it, safe and sterilised. If you are able to house the dog with you during the recovery process, this is of course a bonus. But if that is not possible, then returning the dog to the streets is the next best option. The reward far outweighs any post-surgery risks, playing a massive part in decreasing the numbers of dogs born into hardship of growing up on the streets.
HOW TO HELP STREET DOGS IN BALI
Step 3: Support local animal rescuers
There are multiple animal organisations in Bali like Bali Paws, BAWA, Act for Bali Dogs, Sun and Sage and numerous others listed in the contact links below. These organisations will often have sterilisation days where they will sterilise up to 50 dogs or more in one day. They already do so much, so please don’t ask them to help the dogs you find, and instead help the animal yourself using this guide. You can support their great work by following their Instagram pages, or donating to one of the many sterilisation days they organise.
You can also reach out to them to get involved and offer assistance on these days, as it takes a lot of manpower which they often do not have at their disposal. The cost to sterilise a dog at these mass-sterilisation events is typically around IDR 300,000 to IDR 400,000. One sterilised dog can save multiple litters from the misery of being born into the streets, so for less than the cost of a night out, you can make this massive difference by donating to these sterilisation days, and chipping in on the day if you can.
Facebook groups can join to help stray dogs in Bali:
1. Bali Pet Crusaders – Sterilisation, reporting and education.
2. Stray Treatment Reports (Bali) – Reporting of dogs in different locations and the recent medications given.
3. Ubud Dogs Treatment Report – Reporting of dogs in different locations and the recent medications given.
4. I Love Bali Dogs – Adoption, foster care, and reporting street feeding areas.
Instagram pages you can follow to support local rescuers:
1. BAWA (Bali Animal Welfare Association) – Bali’s biggest animal welfare organisation, rescuing and rehabilitating dogs and other animals throughout Bali.
2. Mission Pawsible – A non-profit organisation for animal rescue and rehabilitation.
3. Sun and Sage – Animal rescue and rehabilitation, rehoming and dog adoption.
4. Bali Paws – Animal rescue and rehabilitation, rehoming and dog adoption.
5. Sari the Bali Dog – Street feeding, reporting and rehoming.
6. Project Bali Dog – Animal rescue and rehabilitation, rehoming, street feeding and other useful information.
7. Bali Pet Crusaders – Sterilisation, reporting and education.
8. Bali Animal Buddies – Animal rescue, feeding and information.
9. The Dogs of Bali – Animal rescue and rehabilitation, rehoming. street feeding and other useful information.
10. Bali Dog Missing – Reporting missing dogs throughout Bali.
HOW TO HELP STREET DOGS IN BALI
Step 4: Carry oral medication for dogs with noticeably bad skin conditions
If you spot a stray dog on the streets with a terrible skin condition, you can help by giving the dog an oral tablet, without having to take him or her to the vets. While we always recommend taking a dog to the vets for a full check-up and sterilisation, this is a great option to easily make a difference to a number of dogs who are suffering from skin conditions.
But wait, what should I give?
The best option for skin conditions is oral medication that is designed to be easily eaten, like Bravecto. Bravecto is a veterinary medicine used to treat parasitic infestations in dogs and cats. It may be used to treat flea and tick infestations in dogs and cats, or as part of the management of flea allergy dermatitis (a skin reaction to flea bites) in dogs and cats.
Bravecto (as well as Simparica) is the preferred treatment for older dogs in this type of condition and can easily be purchased from a local vet or pet shop. It comes in chewable tablets (each can be cut into smaller pieces to treat multiple dogs) made to be a tasty snack for dogs. Top tip: if a dog is hesitant to eat it, mix it in a flavourful food. Similarly, Nexgard is another oral medication specifically for puppies up to three years old.
How much does the treatment cost?
Bravecto Prices: Approx. IDR 240,000 to IDR 350,000 per tablet. You can purchase it online (Tokopedia and Shoppee) or in-store at local pet shops and vet clinics.
How can I treat the sick dogs with Bravecto?
- Bravecto Extra Small: One tablet can treat up to eight dogs (or puppies) with a body weight of two to four-and-a-half kilograms
- Bravecto Small: One tablet can treat up to eight dogs (or one to two years old puppies) with a body weight of over four-and-a-half up to 10 kilograms
- Bravecto Medium: One tablet can treat up to eight dogs with a body weight of over 10 up to 20 kilograms
- Bravecto Large: One tablet can treat up to eight dogs with a body weight of over 20 up to 40 kilograms
Meet “Ooo Ooo” – this boy was treated with Bravecto and wormer using the recommended doses, and the above pictures are five weeks apart. Look at the change in confidence alone! You may not be around long enough to see this transformation take shape, but rest assured the dog you give the medication to will go through the exact same.
To conclude…
Rescuing and caring for street dogs in Bali can be emotionally challenging, but it’s a compassionate and necessary endeavour. By taking action, supporting local organisations and following these steps, you can make a significant difference in the life of a Bali street dog.
