It is now forbidden to feed stray dogs in Legian as the popular tourist area’s administration is looking to curb the spread of rabies. Abandoning dogs in the area is also now officially banned by local authorities.
A poster outlining the new rules was photographed and has made the rounds online recently. An official has now confirmed that the poster and the new rules are legit.
Legian District Chief Putu Eka Martini was quoted by Kumparan as saying that the new rules went into effect last week amid a recent rabies scare and to ensure beaches in the area are kept clean.
“Before this there were many stray dogs without owners and were looked after by dog lovers who fed them [on the spot],” Putu Eka said.
“It’s unclear whether stray dogs have been vaccinated or not.”
Putu Eka said that stray dogs often drop their waste on the streets. She added that the district office had hoped that dog lovers adopted the strays instead of just feeding them on the street.
Amid the new rules, Putu Eka said the office is working closely with local animal shelters to relocate the dogs.
“Feel free to feed them in the animal shelters,” she said.
Four people, including two foreign nationals, were reportedly bitten by stray dogs in Legian last month. The dogs in these cases later tested positive for rabies.
When asked about the new rules, Bali Animal Welfare Association (BAWA) founder and director Janice Girardi told Coconuts that vaccinating and sterilizing would be the answer for rabies control.
“Feeding dogs socializes the dogs, making it easy to catch them for rabies vaccinations, health treatments and sterilization. That is the answer to rabies control although it takes a lot of effort and all sectors working together,” she said.
EDITOR’S NOTE: We updated this article with a statement from BAWA.
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