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Yudistira
Swarga on Street Dogs
Yudistira
Swarga Institute, established on 01 September
1998 as a nonprofit organization in Denpasar,
have complained about the severe conditions
suffered by street dogs and of possible
negative reactions arising among foreign
tourists, especially those who love dogs.
Dog lovers should take action to solve the
problem of these street dogs, while the
Balinese traditionally respond to the problem
by performing a specific ritual and sesajen
offerings on Tumpek Kandang Day.
According to Drh. Luh Putu Listriani Wistawan,
a veterinarian who is also treasurer of
the institute, such bad condition of the
street dogs is contradictory to the needs
of people to take care of dogs as domestic
animals. A lack of interest in treating
and feeding these dogs, results in worse
conditions such as the spread of disease
to other dogs. One of the causes of the
growing population of street dogs has been
the lack of conscience among the Balinese
community.
The establishment of Yudistira Swarga Institute
was to facilitate remedy, cleansing, vaccination,
and sterilization of street dogs to prevent
the population growth of homeless dogs and
the spread of infection of others. Other
activities of the association, located in
Jalan Tukad Balian Street, No. 74, Renon
Denpasar, are to educate community members
about how to treat dogs humanely and how
to reduce the numbers of these roaming hounds.
Ms. Listriani Wistawan, who is a 1989 graduate
of Denpasar’s Udayana University, confirmed
that in tackling the dog problem, the institute
has realized some weekly and monthly programs:
during six days of tackling street dogs,
five days are active in field clinics, 20
days of a month on education, and 5 days
of Feeding Program.
Street programs, usually performed in tourist
areas in Bali, consist of medication of
street dogs, especially problems to do with
the skin, worms, and other bad conditions.
After treatment, the dogs are immediately
released at the location of their capture.
Field Clinic Program consists of village-to-village
medication both for dogs kept in households
and street dogs, population control by means
of sterilization, and treating dogs for
worms. Of these programs, the most important
is that of educating and enlightening small
children and adults to know more about the
importance of dog care. Children are educated
to be close to dogs by coloring in pictures,
while adults are informed about how to nurse
the animals.
The education takes place four times a week
with the distribution of brochures and film
shows, while representatives of Education
Kindness Education Club visit elementary
schools. The education aims at introducing
the world of animals, nursing methods, and
how to treat animals kindly.
The Feeding program usually takes place
by issuing samples of foods to “Banjar”
communities, while feeding street dogs daily
in beach areas with the assistance of some
volunteers.
Ms. Listriani Wistawan said financial resources
for the institute are fully dependent on
donators or sponsors, who are generally
lovers of animals. Most donators originate
from abroad, while up to present the institute
has only two sponsors. Donations may be
in the form of money, medicine, medical
instruments, dog food, and so on. Ms. Listriani,
a mother of two children, hopes the Government
will assist by giving a piece of land for
the rehabilitation of animals, while issuing
regulations on animal care.Questioned upon
possible fundraising planned by the association
themselves, Ms. Listriani answered that
so far fundraising takes place by means
auctioning off donated wares such as statues,
necklaces, clocks, and articles donated
by others. “We are planning in the
future to raise funds in our country by
competitions and shows, for instance dog
contests, coloring of dog pictures and painting
dogs,” Ms. Listriani told Bali Travel
News recently.
The institute’s programs “have
gained social support as shown by the assistance
given to the general public to the advantage
of a smooth execution of our tasks anywhere
we go. We thank everyone greatly for this
assistance,” Drh. Luh Putu Listriani
Wistawan said. She recognized that the Yudistira
Swarga Institute’s actions are anyhow
related with the Balinese holidays, especially
that of Tumpek Kandang. She rejected to
comment on the sacrifice of dogs in specific
ritual events.
During every Balinese holy day, Ms. Listriani
claims she always offers sesajen, but leaves
the lower-ranked priest, Pemangku, to decide
on the sorts of sesajen needed for certain
holy day. (Budarsana)
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