The rising dog population in Bali’s Gianyar regency has led officials to caution local residents against taking in stray dogs as part of an effort to prevent the spread of rabies in the area.
“We know the people means well, but there are cases of locals taking in stray dogs to take care of, but then they contracted rabies after some time,” Made Raka from Gianyar’s Agricultural and Livestock Agency told Tribun-Bali yesterday.
Raka said the number of documented dogs in Gianyar stood at 55,000 last year, but that number has jumped to around 75,000 in 2019, a number comprised of both strays and pets. Of the latter, around 94 percent have received the rabies vaccination.
According to Raka, the remaining 4,000 are not all strays. Some dog owners are reluctant to give rabies vaccinations to their dogs, fearing that it will affect their coats.
“Some dog owners don’t allow their dogs to receive the vaccination, fearing their fur might fall off. We are really hoping that dog owners will [change their minds] and give their dogs the vaccination. If it so happens that he or she gets bitten and the dog has rabies, it won’t only be a disadvantage for the owner, but also other residents,” Raka told Tribun-Bali.
The agency has also reportedly told local residents to stop the practice of abandoning dogs to ensure that their areas do not become canine dumping grounds.
“Stray dogs have a significant potential for rabies. So we have to stop abandoning dogs,” Raka said. In May, a 22-year-old Balinese man reportedly died from rabies after he was bitten by a stray dog in Klungkung regency. His was the first death from rabies in Bali within the past three years.
