T

he Bali Animal Welfare Association, a non-profit organization dealing with animal welfare, has staged a strong protest against the local authorities for their plan to cull stray dogs en masse.

The mass culling of stray dogs as part of the authorities' anti-rabies drive was considered "ineffective" in curbing the spread of rabies on the island.

"It also threatens the population of dogs here," said Janice Girandi, the association's director.

"By killing all dogs in Bali, the island will face another threat, the rocketing number of rats, which will spread other types of diseases.

"This case was happened in Surash, a small city in India.

"After culling all affected dogs, the city was busy dealing with the rapid growth of the rat population, which caused serious diseases."

She said her organization expected that the Balinese administration's anti-rabies campaign would be carried out properly and effectively.

Janice further said the local authority had culled both stray dogs and pet dogs that had already received anti-rabies vaccines. "*The drive* was regrettable," she said.

Janice added that the World Health Organization (WHO) had stated since 2005 that the elimination of dogs as part of preventing rabies epidemic was ineffective.

The UN body recommended mass vaccination as the most effective method to fight the epidemic.

Mass vaccination programs were practiced in Mexico. The country had conducted mass vaccination programs from l990 through 2006 providing more than 7.1 million anti-rabies vaccines to free it from the rabies epidemic. Tanzania had conducted a similar program.

She went on to say that the local community must be educated on the importance of taking care of their dogs.

"Vaccination programs must be followed by educative activities to arouse people's awareness on their animal health conditions," she said.

The Balinese people, she added, were unique.

"They do not only keep dogs, they live with them.

"The vaccination and educative programs are not too costly. Many foreign donors are willing to provide funds," she said.

Meanwhile, Bali Governor Made Mangku Pastika insisted that the mass culling of stray dogs was urgently needed to halt the rabies epidemic.

"We urge all organizations and foundations that deal with animal welfare to also feel responsible for solving the problem," said Pastika, adding most institutions have lodged protests against any governmental policy.

The governor admitted that he was afraid that the rabies epidemic had also hit monkeys in a number of tourist sites including Sangeh and Monkey Forests.

Janice, however, said that the mass culling of dogs by poisoning the animals had frightened many foreign visitors.