Perth Bali Nights
21st July 2012
Fremantle Function Centre
Tickets will be available in MAY
Perth has a wonderful affinity with Bali and thousands of us travel there every year. During our holidays it’s hard to ignore the plight of Bali’s street dogs and many of us wish there was something we could do. People often tell me how they fed a dog near their hotel with scraps from their breakfast or how they paid a local to put food out for a starving dog after they went home.
Not many people are aware that the Bali Animal Welfare Association is a huge advocate of Bali’s street dogs. They run a number of programs, each designed to increase the welfare of the dogs.
Probably one of the most gratifying programs is BAWA’s street feeding. They visit areas where sick or malnourished dogs are known to be and feed them up on rice and dog biscuits. If the dog needs medical treatment for fur loss or other problems the medicine is hidden inside the food.
BAWA also works with village leaders and regularly visits areas around the island, sterilising up to 40 dogs a day, creating a smaller and healthier street dog population.
Companion animal care, i.e. looking after a pet, is not something the people of Bali are traditionally taught or brought up with. This is a symptom of poverty (in all countries, including Australia). BAWA runs education programs in local schools, teaching kids, their families and their communities how to care for pet dogs.
The Animal Ambulance is the face of the Balinese Animal Welfare Association. It is seen in villages catching dogs for the spay/neuter team, on the beach in Padang Bay feeding a skinny dog under a bus and heads out every day to emergency call outs from locals and tourists about sick or injured animals.
BAWA rescues puppies (and kittens) from the street and cares for them until they are old enough to be re-homed. There are often more than 100 animals at the clinic – puppies, dogs, kittens and cats – and BAWA’s resources are always pushed to capacity.
On top of all this BAWA works tirelessly with Bali’s government, village leaders and authorities like the World Health Organisation to eradicate rabies.
Perth Bali Nights, a fundraising night, will be held for the first time this year and our aim is to raise $20,000 to fund the running of BAWA’s two 24 hour ambulances for a year.
The evening will include a Quiz, Fashion Show and a main Auction as well as a market stall, silent auctions, raffles and games and some fantastic prizes provided by our sponsors.
Businesses interested in sponsorship please contact Gabby on 0423 538 245.
Individuals interested in helping out on the night please contact Gabby also.
If you’re going to Bali in the meantime and see a dog that needs help:
CALL BAWA ON 0361 981 4907
