The isle of Bali overflows with mysteries and delights. From simple pleasures of black sand beaches and monkey filled tropical jungles, Bali calls to surfers, lovers of unique cultures and spiritual seekers.
Balinese believe evil spirits incarnate into dogs. The people feed wild dogs because their belief system demands keeping both good and evil in balance. The dogs live in and around people. Rarely aggressive, usually hungry, the dogs visit all cafes, homes and sources of food.
The dog above visited a cafe on Sanur beach. He never barked or begged for food, just walked quietly among the tourists.
Of course, I rose and took him some food.
Does he look hungry?
He didn’t act excited to eat the chicken and rice I offered. And he showed no interest in being petted.
The next day I saw him again, lazing near the same cafe. The family who ran the cafe knew him well but did not claim him as pet.
Lucky dog!
nicole marie story says
oh! happy dog! some of my most favourite memories are dining at outdoor cafes with my princes pie. thank you for sharing this lovely story! 🙂
jeg700 says
That seems unusual to us North Americans that possessively keep our pets close.
Yet I like the idea of these dogs hanging out with the humans, no particular attachment to any one human but to all humans in general. As though they feel a responsibility to “keep an eye on” everyone rather than just one person, which is usually a full time job for our pets.
Maybe these dogs are ADD/ADHD? LOL
Susan says
Romanticized story. This looks like a breed/mix a foreigner brought in and left behind. The endemic dogs look like dingos, and are frequently hungry and sick, ribcages sticking out as they slink around garbage dumps and the like. They have and spread parasites (to kids running around barefoot) and poop on the beaches. With more tourists come more pets and more abandoned pets. We saw a dying kitten on a sidewalk in Ubud last time we were there (2005), with everyone stepping around it. Trouble is, there was only one vet on the island we were told when we asked a nearby store owner how we could help. She shrugged, “They just die. It’s all right.”
dogleadermysteries says
Maybe we need dogs more than they need us?
You might enjoy reading “Merle’s Door: Lessons from a Freethinking Dog” by Ted Kerasote. A wonderful truth story about his free roaming dog. I have a link to it on my books for dog lovers page.
dogleadermysteries says
Thanks for leaving a comment. Photo Friday delivers dog humor or visual treat. Monday and all other days, I post on animal welfare and encourage dog adoption.
I also saw one sick puppy in Bali and felt sad I could not save him. The other dozen or so, dogs were not as thin as you saw. I’m not sure how many medical clinics there are for people on the island. The locals we talked to lived on rice and a little fruit so all resources, food and medical are stretched thin.
Kristina Stanley says
I think a happy spirit reincarnated into my dog. He’s one of the lucky ones in this world who never has to worry about his next meal.