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SEPTEMBER HIGHLIGHTS
A Holy Day for Animals
On the 5th of September, Bali celebrated Tumpek Uye – a special Balinese holy day dedicated to animals, when prayers, offerings and acts of care are given in appreciation of all living beings.
The values at the heart of Tumpek Uye – respect, compassion and care for animals – are the same values that guide our work every day. It is a beautiful reminder of the place animals hold in our lives and our shared responsibility to protect and care for them.
What made the day especially moving was seeing the dogs and cats receive traditional prayers and blessings alongside rabies vaccinations, sterilization and other veterinary care.
World Rabies Day 2026: “Stronger Together”
BAWA held a series of activities throughout the second half of September. We ran spay/neuter and rabies vaccination days together with PDHI (the veterinary association) and the Animal Husbandry Departments of Denpasar, Gianyar and Bangli. Together, we raised awareness about rabies prevention and helped keep both people and animals safe from this preventable disease.
In Bangli, BAWA joined our partner FOUR PAWS for a special two-day program. Students took part by creating and sharing their own messages about dog-bite prevention, responsible pet ownership and kindness to animals, with a contest involving seven schools. At the same time, community dogs and family pets received rabies vaccinations, sterilization and treatment.
Special thanks to the Bangli Regency Government who attended all the activities. We are also deeply grateful to FOUR PAWS for their support in making this World Rabies Day program possible.
Rabies Awareness Goes to Schools
Preventing rabies isn’t only about vaccination. Education is vital, especially for children growing up in communities where dogs are part of everyday life.
In partnership with the Boehringer Ingelheim team, BAWA visited schools in remote villages to talk with students about rabies prevention, animal welfare and how to stay safe around dogs and other animals. In September alone, we reached 4,304 students – bringing the total to 28,463 students so far this year.
It was wonderful to see the children so engaged – asking questions, joining in and showing genuine care for animals – and to see the educational materials supported by Boehringer Ingelheim being taken home to share with friends and families.
Rescue, Rehab, Rehome
Every day, BAWA responds to calls for animals in need – from abandoned litters and extremely sick animals requiring urgent medical care to victims of neglect and cruelty.
In September, our hotline responded to 527 animals, bringing the total to 4,504 animals helped so far this year.
Many animals needed urgent specialised care at veterinary clinics, while others needed rehabilitation at our shelters. Most have no homes to return to.
Antara is one of them.
When Antara was rescued, he was at death’s door. A heavy metal chain had caused a deep, bleeding wound around his neck that was badly infected and infested with maggots. He was also terrified, making it difficult for our vets to treat him.
After a month of intensive clinical care, Antara is now stronger and healthier. Most importantly, he is beginning to trust again. He now steps out of his cage and gently interacts with the vets who care for him. It may seem like a small step, but for Antara, it is a huge one.
There is still a long road ahead – and when he is released from the clinic, he will continue his rehabilitation at BAWA and hopefully, one day, find the loving home he deserves.
Please help us help Antara and the many animals like him who come to BAWA needing urgent treatment, care and a chance to recover.
We need your continued support to keep this life-saving work going. We can’t do this without you.