When I travel, I'm always interested in what is the view of the given country upon the keeping of pets. And generally, how animals are treated there. The position of cats, dogs and rodents varies significantly in different countries, so there’s always something that surprises me. Today, I will share the experience from Indonesia.
Indonesia currently belongs to the countries with the highest incidence of rabies among the canine population. This concerns mainly the island of Bali, where you meet the dogs on every corner. Most locals don’t pay attention to them and in most cases, they don’t like them. The dogs are here on the bottommost rungs of the social ladder. This also corresponds to the neglected care for these Indonesian dogs.
For tourists, these are “mangy mongrels! and at the same time, they don’t pay much attention to them. In addition, you’ll read in the guide, that because of the risk of jaundice, cuddling is not recommended. Reactions of local dogs may be unpredictable due to their wild life on the street.
I was deterred from scratching them rather by fleas, which every other one (maybe ever one) of these dogs is proudly carrying in their fur. However, in comparison, for example, with Sri Lanka, where I’ve first encountered the attacking dog packs, local dogs seem calmer and even apathetic to me.
There's a sort of an unspoken agreement on mutual conciliation. I won't bite you and you're not going to beat me. Peace, however, lasts only until something happens. For example, a dog that has been starving for several days, steals an unguarded meat on a stick from a stand or polishes off a sacrificial basket. At that moment, the locals don’t go far for a stone or a slingshot.
That’s a scene that complete tears my dog lover’s heart. Still, the fighting for survival and frequent fights are their everyday reality. Besides, they still run the “bloody sport” in Indonesia, when they let the dog fight with a boar. It’s not surprising, that the dog does not play any significant role in the Indonesian tradition or culture.
Some Indonesian, specifically Balinese organisations have started vaccinating and neutering the dogs living on the street, but they’ve also started organising educational and awareness-raising activities for the public. Thanks to financial donations, the situation of Indonesian dogs is gradually improving. However, education will still be needed for some time. If someone from the locals decides to keep a dog, he usually has them tied on a short chain at their house or stand.
Yet you still pass pet stores on the street and you can’t stop wondering, for whom they might be intended. Here and there, you might meet a dog with a collar, but it’s not in a much better shape than his fellow tribesmen without a master. Not even western tourists usually bring their dogs here, due to the local bacterial environment that’s dangerous for the organism of their four-legged pets. So, the same way as I do, they seek temporary replacement for their dog loves in giving the leftovers from their lunches to stray dogs.
What is your experience with dogs when traveling abroad?
A dog’s coat is one of its greatest characteristics that requires great care. It does not matter whether your canine companion is a short-haired or long-haired dog. Attention is required by all of them. How to take care of dog fur and what to do...
In the previous article, we wrote about what rescuing people entails and which dog breeds are suitable for searching for people in collapsed buildings. This topic is so interesting that we decided to focus even more on dog training itself, i.e. on the...
Guinea pig shows are an attractive opportunity for breeders. In addition to the animal displaying itself, guinea pig lovers get to meet and share valuable knowledge and experience. If you have a guinea pig at home, you may have considered taking part...
Let’s be clear, cats are carnivores by nature. They love meat. It is completely natural for them. Meat must be the basis of their daily nutrition. A cat cannot live without meat! Cats instinctively prefer foods high in meat. Feeds with meat aroma and...
There are questions that run through a person’s mind upon seeing dogs searching for people lost in the woods, stuck under the rubble of a collapsed building or drowning in a reservoir. How difficult is it for a dog to find such people? Can I train my...
It is an unenviable situation no four-legged companion´s owner would like to get into. When your dog runs astray during a walk, for example because it discovers a hole in the fence or senses another animal that catches its attention, many of us panic...
Probably most of us know dog exhibitions including the organization thereof. However, even guinea pig owners can participate at an exhibition. How do such events work and what is their main principle? How do I prepare my guinea pig for an exhibition...
Not only the Thai cats appearance but also their nature is exceptional. They are communicative, social and together with the owner, they can establish a strong relationship full of boundless trust. However, at the same time, this breed is facing...
We, humans, do take care of our bodies and our health. If our knee hurts, we go to the orthopaedist, if our back hurts for a long time, we probably start considering physiotherapy. The need to go to inspections regularly increases with the level of...
At dog shows, many dog lovers meet to show off with their beloved pets of pure breed. However, such events are not only beauty pageants as they could seem. They are also important for breeding and for pure-bred dog to mate. What happens on such shows...
One of the most important parts of Christmas is Christmas Eve’s dinner. For example in the Czech Republic, it usually includes fish soup, fried carp or schnitzel and potato salad. However, the most important thing is that all loved ones should be at...
At Christmas, we want to make our loved ones, those who are our loyal companions throughout the whole year, happy. It also applies to our furry friends. If you have a cat at home and you are thinking about what to give it at Christmas, we have a...
