Bali Dogs

Dogs: By Jorden Ridnour

Finding out about the number of stray dogs on the island was concerning. Dogs when undisciplined and uncared for can run in packs and pack animals can hunt and cause harm. Each of us is familiar with dogs, grew up with them and understand domesticated dog behavior.

We are a group of five, four adults and one child of nine. On our first adventure outside of the villa we did see dogs. Lots of dogs. Some were in the unsupervised care of people. Others were stray, no collar, looking for food, laying on the side of the road or in the shade under a beach chair. Some dogs looked healthy and friendly others didn’t.

Bali dogs have a similar look resembling each other in many ways. Some have the look of the Chinese chow-chow and the akita of Japan. Others were a mix of unknown origin. Some reminded me of the Australian cattle dogs we have in the United States. Speaking with people of Bali we came to understand the dogs of Bali are one of the oldest dogs known to man with genetic ties to the Australian dingo the Chow from China and Akita from Japan.

There were a few dogs that didn’t fit the Bali dog type. These were the outliers the foreigners. These dogs came in with people moving to or visiting Bali. I saw one boxer and one wolf hound without collar or owners. The wolf hound did cause a fright in me as it was so big. But it lurked on mouth agape as it panted from the heat in search of a savory asphalt treat.

We did see many other well-groomed small dogs like the Lhasa Apso and Bichon Frise, Poodles and a Labrador retriever. These dogs were all owned and under the watchful eye of the owners or caretakers. Seeing so many types of dogs groomed and others so messy I couldn’t help but think of the Disney movie Lady and the Tramp.

The dogs in our neighborhood got used to seeing us and we became familiar with them. Most of the dogs we met on our walks kept to themselves sniffing and picking through garbage. While eating at some of restaurants on the beach, where many dogs roam, some would sit near us begging for table scraps. Other diners would toss an onion ring or potato wedge away from the table to get the dog to leave the area. Others like myself would do our best to ignore the intrusion. Servers did their best to keep them at bay slapping their hands together to scare them away.

In time I recognize these dogs are doing what they have done for many many years, roaming the beaches and street foraging for food, surviving. Some of the dogs became welcoming friends as we became familiar to them and they to us as we visited the beaches they roamed or the eateries they frequented.

Maddox befriended a dog on the beach, Oreo he named it. Can you guess why the name Oreo? A black and white coated dog with black and white speckles all over it. Anna, while at her favorite diner on the beach named a cute stout, short legged, sandy colored dog "Honey" after it so comfortably came up to

her, rolled herself into a ball and lay right next to her. Both Oreo and Honey are friendly strays who adopted Maddox and Anna and the rest of us.

I stopped in at a local pet shop and purchased some dog treats. The treats were wafers, similar to what treats we would have back home. I wanted to make friends with as many dogs near our villa as I could. I also wanted to help feed those who always looked to be scavenging. In anticipation I would toss a dog a treat hoping to see them gobble it down in a frenzy of delight and thankfulness. This was not the case. In fact, the opposite occurred on most occasions. The dogs would sniff and ignore walking past never looking the way of the hand that tried to feed them.

Many of the stray dogs had collars on them but no owners. I found out later this was due to the care of a group of residents who formed an animal welfare group called Bali People for Animal Welfare, BPAW. During the covid pandemic the stray dogs left uncared for. BPAW took it upon themselves to feed, nurse and care for many of these dogs even helping homeowners who didn’t have the income, couldn’t work or afford to feed their own dogs. If it wasn’t for the covid ordeal the single mindedness and the heart of BPAW would not have existed. Good always prevails over any circumstances we face.

In the evenings as the intensity of the sun waned Bali dogs would start to gather. Packs would form on the beaches. At one time up to eleven dogs were playing, barking, chasing each other and reminding one another of the hierarchy of the pack.

The Bali dogs we encountered on our walks were never a threat. We enjoyed them and looked forward to their company. We wouldn’t advise to go up to a stay dog putting our hand out looking for a friendly lick or touch of the nose. Use caution and your best judgement.