The Bali Street Dog Fund was established in 1999 by Natasha Burton & Paula Hodgson to address the welfare problems associated with the overwhelming number of dogs and cats on an island where Balinese people do not have the resources or knowledge to provide even the most basic care. The Charity is registered with the NSW Department of Fair Trading and the ACNC. Programs in Bali are currently run by our partner organisation, the Bali Animal Welfare Association (BAWA). For more information go to BAWA's website www.bawabali.com
Aims & Objectives
The aims and objectives of the Bali Street Dog Fund is to promote prevention and control of rabies with the help of our partner organisation, BAWA (Bali Animal Welfare Association), which is done through One Health programs (Program Dharma) operating in Balinese villages. Program Dharma recognises the connection between human, animal and environmental health, with a particular focus on preventing and controlling zoonotic diseases in people, especially rabies. Rabies in Bali is one of Indonesia’s officially identified priority zoonotic diseases and remains endemic and a significant public health issue in Bali.
By controlling rabies at its main source of transmission and teaching people how to prevent dog bites and what to do following possible exposure this program aims to prevent human rabies infections and deaths. Rabies vaccinations, parasite treatments and sterilisations are provided to dogs. These services form part of the wider public health objective of reducing the risk of zoonotic diseases being transmitted to people.
Education is provided directly to people, including adults and families attending One Health Days and children through programs in public and private schools. Education covers rabies awareness, safe interaction with dogs, bite prevention and what to do following a bite or possible rabies exposure, including the importance of seeking medical treatment promptly.
Indonesian health authorities and the World Health Organization recognise that preventing human rabies requires a One Health approach, including mass dog vaccination, dog population management, community education and prompt medical treatment following possible exposure and has committed to the global “Zero by 30” goal of ending human deaths from dog-mediated rabies by 2030. Project Dharma directly supports this public health goal through dog vaccination, dog population management and community education aimed at preventing transmission of rabies to people.
