Bali prepares rabies bylaw to curb outbreak

Luh De Suriyani ,  The Jakarta Post ,  Denpasar   |  Fri, 04/24/2009 12:55 PM  |  The Archipelago

The Bali provincial administration held a public hearing Thursday to gain feedback about its plan to introduce a bylaw on rabies that will focus on monitoring and controlling rabies vectors, such as dogs, cats and monkeys.

The hearing was attended by the Bali Rabies Forum, a coalition of animal rights NGOs, which will take part in arranging the draft.

The draft bylaw reflects the administration's effort to address several crucial obstacles in containing the rabies outbreak, in particular how to deal with stray dogs in a more humane way.

Article 7 of the draft stipulates that any vector found roaming unsupervised in the streets will be captured and placed in a detention center of the municipality and regency administration.

Owners of detained rabies infected animals may bail their pets out after paying detention facility expenses.

Unclaimed animals will be confiscated by the administrations.

The confiscated animals will be offered to the public for adoption. However, if these animals do not find new homes, they will be put down.

Head of the Bali Animal Husbandry Agency Ida Bagus Ketut Alit said, "The main problem we face in controlling the spread of rabies are the stray dogs and other pets abandoned on the streets by their owners."

Another problem, he said, was the high level of transfer to and from the island.

The draft bylaw also contains articles that oblige pet owners to register their pets and acquire registration cards issued by local administrations.

The by-law will also make it mandatory for owners to provide their pets with routine vaccinations and to leash or cage their pets.

It also stipulates that any commercial pets traders must have an official license.

An activist from the Yudistira Swarga Foundation said the draft bylaw was idealistic as it focused on animal welfare.

He highlighted the bylaw's idea of establishing government-run animal shelters.

"Animal shelters need funds," said I Wayan Mudiarta, the foundation's operational manager.

"Hopefully, they will build real shelters for animals instead of torturing them."

He added the draft needed to be complemented by a thorough technical guide on elimination and vaccination.

Nevertheless, the current policy and practice on stray dog elimination has disturbed several pet owners.

Ahmad Yani of Ubung complained about the number of stray dogs being put down.

"My children keep asking me why was our dog, which had been vaccinated and tagged, culled when it roamed the streets?" he said.

"Who should be responsible for this action?"

Rabies has been on the southern tip of the island since late 2008. So far,

nine people have died with rabies symptoms after being bitten by stray dogs.

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Roy Thompson Bali (not verified) — Sat, 04/25/2009 - 12:47pm

Do these street dogs have brown uniforms?

Anna Sternfeldt (not verified) — Sat, 04/25/2009 - 11:39am

It is good that something is being done in this matter. But to force people to leash or cage their pets will make the life for a lot of animals into a night mare. Many animals will ending up living in a cage all day and night, not really a life worth living. It will be a constant torture for the poor animals.
All living creatures have the right to a dignified life.
Anna

Harti (not verified) — Sat, 04/25/2009 - 4:42am

i do agree goverment need to fund animal shelter so any pets owner unable to care unwanted pet bring to a shelter and care for iam pet lover and rescue two dog is like a babie to me is sad to hear dogs cats being kill when iam going to bali i would like to visit animal shelter and make small donetion thank you

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