Dog Ecology and Rabies Knowledge of Owners and Non-Owners in Sanur, A Sub-District of the Indonesian Island Province of Bali

• Main Authors: Elly Hiby, Kadek Karang Agustina, Kate Nattras Atema, Gusti Ngurah Bagus, Janice Girardi, Mike Harfoot, Yacinta Haryono, Lex Hiby, Hendra Irawan, Levin Kalalo, Sang Gede Purnama, I. Made Subrata, Ida Bagus Ngurah Swacita, Ni Wayan Arya Utami, Pande Putu Januraga, Dewa Nyoman Wirawan
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2018-07-01
• Series: Animals
• Subjects: dog; canine; stray dog; demographics; rabies; vaccination; owner behaviour; owner knowledge; Bali.
• Online Access: http://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/8/7/112

This study gained an understanding of dog demographics, owner behaviour, and knowledge, attitudes and practices relating to rabies in three villages in Sanur, Bali, providing insights for an intervention to improve responsible dog ownership. A combination of a census of all dogs, street surveys of roaming dogs, and a Knowledge, Attitude and Practices (KAP) survey was used to study both dogs and people. A total of 6009 dogs were recorded, of which only 3.3% appeared to be unowned; unowned dogs had poorer welfare and were more likely to be wary of attempted approaches by people. The source of dogs, method of confinement used by owners, and whether dogs were sterilised differed between three breed types; purebred dogs, mixed breed, and Bali dogs (native breed). Three variables were found to have significant effects on the chances of not being vaccinated: age, dog type, and confinement. A mean of 3.81 roaming dogs per km of street surveyed was recorded along 28 sub-village routes. Responses to attitude statements showed that most people had a positive attitude towards dogs and vaccination and did not agree with culling. Knowledge of appropriate bite treatment and symptoms of rabies in dogs was good.