Cruelty, neglect and rabies endanger dogs and people in Bali—education is the path to sustainable change.
In Bali, poverty, lack of education, and traditions that ignore cruelty to dogs are often part of life. Issues include a general lack of understanding of dogs as sentient beings; free-roaming dogs without adequate food, shelter and veterinary care; chaining and caging in inhumane conditions; dumping of unwanted puppies; motor vehicle accidents; poisoning; dogmeat consumption; acts of cruelty; and basic neglect. In addition, rabies is currently present in all regions of Bali, posing a serious threat to human and animal health. We are convinced that the key to sustainable change to dog welfare and safety lies in education. Our main aims are to encourage empathy and compassion for dogs, to raise children’s awareness of the needs and welfare of dogs, how to stay safe around dogs, and what to do if they are bitten. Students are encouraged to take this awareness into their communities, thereby preventing issues before they occur.
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BAWA’s education program has demonstrated a clear and measurable impact on children’s knowledge of dog welfare, bite prevention, and rabies safety. Through interactive lessons grounded in the Five Freedoms, students learn to understand dogs’ needs, recognize why dogs may bite, practice safe behavior around dogs, and know what to do if a bite occurs. A formal quantitative evaluation conducted with Dogs Trust Worldwide Ethical Board assessed the impact of a single workshop through a randomized controlled trial involving 349 elementary school students aged 8–12 in Bali. Results showed a significant positive improvement in learners’ understanding of dog safety and rabies prevention across all intervention groups, with a large overall effect on total knowledge scores. Within BAWA’s Theory of Change, this increased knowledge is expected to translate into safer, more welfare-focused behavior, as children share what they learn with their families and communities, contributing to long-term improvements in both animal welfare and public health.
Reach 15,000 children in over 150 schools across Bali
Educate them on how important dog safety and rabies prevention is
Once the project is finished, donors share their experiences and verified impact reports are published here.
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