Woof
Trip Start
Jul 11, 2010
1
15
19
Trip End
Aug 09, 2010
Ubud, Bali, Indonesia
Saturday, July 31, 2010
So on one hand I’m glad I’ve taken the time to do this, but on the other it was an absolutely heartbreaking sight. To back track a little, the shelter has three components. Where most of the animals (I was told about 130 in total) are housed is in a building just south of Ubud. Think of an old barn meets a utility building on a farm and the smell was enough to make me wretch. Then, just a bit north is a veterinary clinic called Good Karma – and these people are chocked full of it. Obviously, any treatment needed happens here. And last is the second hand shop where items for pets are sold that have been donated (most by visiting Australians). On a good day, they sell about 700,000 rupiah…and large as this number may seem, it only works out to about $80 give or take. BARC, it goes without saying, is a non profit organization that relies heavily on support from tourists because, as it is, animals are already seen as a hassle so any donations are not coming from the locals. This is not to say that the Balinese are heartless souls with no use for their pets, but they just fall a little further down the totem pole. Okay, a lot down the totem pole. At any rate, BARC is able to offer meager support to dogs and cats.
I understand that care for humans is expensive enough without factoring in how much it may be for a dog or a cat – I get it. What Ebony, the co-director of the org, explained to me is that there has been this recent social value placed on owning a “western dog" or breeds such as Rottweilers, Pitbulls…etc here in Bali. Most of the ones they have here are reminiscent of a dingo type of breed, and there are just tons of them everywhere. No babies have been eaten that I’m aware of, by the way. So they go out of their way to buy these dogs, and some (not all) are found with skin hanging from their bodies because they’re so malnurished. Often you’ll see them on the streets with patches or their fur missing because they have scratched it bare, and BARC picks them up and offers what care they can. And they haven’t been bathed. And they’re feral. And they have no homes or consistent source of food. Heartbreaking.
Ebony mentioned they needed some help at the shelter, so away I went to help with general upkeep and some socialization. Really I mean I mopped the floor and pet the poor dogs that were either skittish or starved for attention. Suffice to say I got a strong reaction either way. Now I love a good velcro dog, and there were a few that were falling all over themselves (and me) to have me scratch their ears. But others were snarling and running away at the sight of me. I saw a couple that had deformities, and others who had kennel cough, and still others that had skin issues. As you can probably tell, it was a lot to take in.
The shelter itself is dilapidated and in dire need of a wrecking ball. And then a rebuild. I say this not to tease, but really because even in these conditions these animals receive better care here than in the homes they should be living in, which I imagine are much, much nicer. The staff that's been hired are one part locals and the other people like me who pop in for a few days to help with whatever they may need. Because the job is in a shelter that is as I've described it, the only folks they're getting are the ones that work for next to nothing. Like I said, it was a lot to take in.
Comments
I know that I haven't commented yet...but have been enjoying your narratives about your adventure abroad! Keep them coming! Cannot wait to see all the pics you've probably taken. Have fun lit'l sis- cannot wait to see you soon- Love MILI
Hi There,
I just stumbled across your page, and was wondering whether you could provide me with a little more information about your time volunteering at barc?
I am doing some marketing for the organization, and i am trying to put together a volunteers information pack based on the experiences of previous volunteers, so that the new ones have a bit more of an idea of what to expect.
- How you heard about BARC
- why you decided to volunteer
- the length of time you were there for
- initial impressions of the shelter
- the highs and lows
- the average day
- the shocks and the great moments
- other activities you do to help
- would you recommend volunteering
- are you going to go back again
Also your country of origin and full name would be fantastic also!
Look forward to hearing from you soon!
Jody Bennett
jodybennett@y7mail.com
Falling in love with Bali Dogs is not hard to do, there is just something about them, one look and you are hooked. If you want a more full filling experience with Bali dogs, forget BARC and go to BAWA to volunteer. They are also in Ubud and are an amazing and professional group who not only run a spay/neuter program, animal welfare education programs in the school but have a 24 hour clinic and two 24 hour ambulances and they not only help injured dogs and cats but also monekys, deer, bats, any animal that needs help. Their facilities are clean, not run down and very well organised and like all animal welfare organisations run on very little money. Once the dogs at the clinic are well they are adopted through a fantasic adoption program. BARC is old, smelly and there is a question mark these days over its authenticity and I have experiened first hand the rudeness of the owner which is very off putting and is how I ended up at BAWA and thank goodness I did, it is run professionally and the staff are fantastic - so if you are wanting a great Bali experience then volunteer at BAWA - you have to be vaccinated against rabies to volunteer there but its worth it and also a visit to their animal welfare store in Ubud itself is just as rewarding, to have cuddles with Mia, the most amazing dog you will ever meet, she is blind but what a great life she has and she endears herself to all who meet her.
Hi Paula,
Thank you for taking the time to respond to my email.
Although I have not personally been in the BARC shelter, I feel that possibly some comments about the operating and authenticity of the shelter may be unwarranted.
After extensive communication with two of the main BARC representatives, I have been treated with nothing more than gratefulness and people that are struggling to continue with their mission, but making fantastic progress and assisting numerous dogs in the process off the streets and into good homes.
The reason why I have agreed to assist BARC is due to the fact that they are undertaking a difficult mission and need support to continue the great work that they are doing.
As far as the 'smelly factor' goes, I am pretty sure no amount of Glen 20 would cover up the smell of 120 dogs, but as I said earlier I haven't been into the shelter myself and as such cannot comment.
I have done some research on BAWA as well, and they sound like a reputable organisation that are making great strides in improving the lives of Bali's forgotten animals. I think it is important to remember that both organisations are on the same page, both attempting to achieve the same objective; and reviews such as the one posted above can cause damaging outcomes for both BARC and BAWA.
Once I have completed my volunteering stint in the shelter I will have better first hand knowledge about the conditions and reality of the shelter - but until then I continue to support BARC and it's mission.
Hi Jody thanks for your reply. Your dedication to dogs is admirable, anyone volunteering for any animal organisation be it in Bali, Thailand, Africa, anywhere knows it is a rewarding experience and you are lucky that you have an extended period of time to do so. There is more than just BARC and BAWA in Bali helping the dogs which is great, there is a fantastic lady in Kuta called Kris Ritchie if you ever get the chance to go down to the beach and see her and the great work she does you will be inspired by her too. The more people who can help the dogs the better and I look forward to when I can return to Bali to spend my time helping the needy. Keep up the good work!
HI PAULA,
KRIS RICHIE WHOM YOU MENTION ABOVE IS A SUPPORTER OF BARC, SHE HAS BEEN TO OUR REFUGE AND IS A GREAT ADVOCATE OF OUR PLACE, IN FACT WE JUST TAKEN 2 OF THE BEACH DOGS TO OUR CLINIC, TO STERILIZE AND I PERSONALLY DROPPED ONE BACK TO HER THIS MONDAY,WE ARE WAITING TO FIND A HOME FOR THE OTHER AS SHE HAS BEHAVIOURAL PROBLEMS AND HAS TO BE RELOCATED SOMEWHERE ELSE AND THE LOCALS HAVE THREATENED TO POSION HER, jANICE THE FOUNDER OF BAWA IS A FRIEND OF MINE, AND HAS BEEN SO FOR 10 YEARS , WE TALK ALOT ABOUT DOGS, JANICE AND I ARE BOTH PUSHING AGAINST THE COMMON DENOMINATOR HERE, OUR WORK IS CONSTANTLY STRESSFUL, i WOULD APPRECIATE YOU PAULA NOT ABUSING US FOR THE WORK WE ARE DOING YOU CAN SEE FROM ABOVE PICTURES OUR PLACE IS GETTING THERE YES WE NEED MORE ROOFING, AND WE WILL GET IT, BUT YOU HAVE NOT BEEN HERE FOR 7 YEARS SO YOU ARE NO JUDGE OF US. ALL CHARITIES WILL HAVE PEOPLE CHOOSING TO ABUSE INSTEAD OF SUPPORTING. I REMEMBER YOU COMING TO BARC AND TAKING PHOTOS OF OUR DOGS YOU TOOK ONE OF JULIE, ONE OF OUR DOGS WE STILL HAVE IN OUR SHELTER, AS WE ARE A NO KILL REFUGE AND YOU USED THIS PHOTO TO PUT ON YOUR OWN WEB SITE MISLEADING A LITTLE DON'T YOU THINK PAULA?, JUST SO EVERY ONE KNOWS YOU ARE THE FUNDRAISER FOR BAWA SO OF COURSE YOU WOULD LIKE EVERYONE TO JUST SUPPORT BAWA, BUT JUST TRY AND REMEMBER THAT I HAVE MADE A COMMITMENT TO THESE DOGS AND I WILL CONTINUE TO STAY HERE AND DO HANDS ON UNTIL I HAVE MADE A SAFE PLACE FOR THEM TO LIVE OUT THEIR LIVES, FOR YOU TO CONSTANTLY BERATE MY EFFORTS AND REMEMBER I AM ALSO A FELLOW AUSSIE, IS BELITTLING TO YOU AND BAWA'S NAME ALSO . SO PLEASE STOP WE ARE TIRED OF IT YOU NEED TO LET US GET ON WITH THE JOB. BY THE WAY WE HAVE 100.S OF PEOPLE VISITING US EVERY YEAR THEY ALSO HAVE ONLY WONDERFUL THINGS TO SAY ABOUT US, WE MAY HAVE ONE OF TWO PEOPLE PER YEAR WHO THINK THE DOGS SHOULD HAVE INNERSPRING MATTRESSES AND FEATHER PILLOWS TO LAY THEIR LITTLE HEADS ON BUT WE PROVIDE THE BEST WE CAN. WE HAVE A BIG ADOPTION RATE WE ALSO VACCINATE AROUND 40 DOGS A WEEK AND AND WE STERILIZE AND NEUTER DOGS EVERY WEEK AROUND THE ISLAND. WE ALSO HAVE A BIG SHINY AMBULANCE DONATED BY A GRATEFUL SHEIKH... IF WE WERE NOT DOING RIGHT WE WOULD NOT HAVE THE HUGE SUPPORT WE DO HAVE. LINDA BULLER FOUNDER OF BARC.