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Week 4

(11 - 16 September  2004)

Dr. Zul (DVS) &

Dr Noryhati (DBKL)  

During the final week of Veterinary Training programme in Bali, Dr Zul Head Vet at Department of Veterinary Services (DVS) in Cheras, KL came to Bali to follow the Field Clinic, Street Clinic and Kindness Clubs.  Dr Zul has been a staunch supporter of Klinik Kembiri and regularly volunteers for the Klinik during weekends.  Dr Zul routinely neuters and spays animals within a clinic environment.  The aim for this week was to introduce a new concept, including building the neutering protocol with a view to releasing the animals following surgery. 

Although Dr Zul has experience in neutering, the Field Clinic and Street Clinic was the first time Dr Zul had worked outdoors, operating in these circumstances makes sterility and asepsis a necessity rather than a luxury.  As we joined the Street Team close to Ubud they had already drawn a crowd around a busy operating theater – one within the van and one on boxes at the side of the road.  Some villagers brought dogs and puppies for check ups only, other dogs had been caught for neutering.  Dr Zul performed EAN spay as Dr Noryhati talked to people who had brought dogs to Yudisthira. 

During the final week of the training, Dr Noryhati from DBKL joined the programme as an observer.  Dr Noryhati is a leading figure in Government management of over population and is slowly changing the mind-set from ‘catch and kill’ to efficient and proactive solutions.  SPCA has worked with Dr Noryhati and DBKL since 2001 in preparation for and eventually the launch and now successful Klinik Kembiri. 

During the set up of the Field Clinic Dr Noryhati noted the speed and efficient nature of the team, and enquired about the administrative preparation which makes each visit to a Banjaar productive.  ‘The clinic is free and easy and has been prearranged – everyone at the village knows about Yudisthira and before the tent was set up people were gathering with even small puppies’.

Dr Noryhati was particularly impressed with the Balinese genuine care and compassion for their animals ‘following surgery the first person to touch and be with the animal is the owner who waited patiently for the animal to be neutered or spayed, the people walk all the way to the banjaar carrying their dogs in their arms, there are few cars.’  Throughout the growth of the programme this is becoming noted more and more, it seems that the Yudisthira team have managed through their enthusiasm to give worth to these animals, the villagers have been taught how to handle their animals, where possible holding them for both the pre-med and injections for anesthetic. 

The team also were excited to tell Dr Noryhati about individual animals who had severe skin diseases and following treatment from Yudisthira had recovered fully – the owners had been proud to show their dog to the team when they return to the area for follow up work. 

Dr Noryhati followed the Dog Catchers out to the street and was overwhelmed by their speed and accurate catching, ‘this is definitely a method that could benefit the dog catchers in KL, we need more humane methods rather than always using the loop.’  Methods of catching were discussed and the advantages and disadvantages of using the net in a real situation in KL.  ‘The problems we would encounter is that the dogs in KL are not being caught to be treated or given a pre-med and soon after released, our dogs need to be caught and then transported to the municipality pound, although the initial catching would be better with nets, we need to find solutions for the transport and unloading of the dogs into the kennels’. 

During the second leg of the Workshop in KL, Nana Prayoga, pioneer of this method of dog catching has been invited to join the 4 teams of DBKL catchers to share his knowledge and practical solutions for catching stray dogs, we hope through this training we can develop methods of catching that address welfare.   

On the last day both Dr Zul and Dr Noryhati visited the Yudisthira Kindness Clubs, the school programme that has been introduced and currently teaches over three thousand children annually about animals (dogs, cows, horses, turtles, monkeys and Bali Starling) and how to care for them.  The syllabus also introduces conservation and a global perspective on animals with questions such as ‘in Bali we have Turtles, where else in the world to Turtles live?’ the children are taught about the unique cows in Bali and their special features and are then told about other types of cow including the difference between a cow for meat and a cow for dairy production.  It is through this kind of basic education that Yudisthira aims to ‘grow’ the next Balinese generation with a sense of responsibility, understanding and compassion for animals – all through a large helping of FUN and LAUGHTER! 

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