Emergency Assistance for Animals in Disasters

By admin_sintesia / December 11, 2022

A few days after the earthquake disaster that struck Cianjur Regency, Sintesia Animalia Indonesia, along with several animal welfare activist communities, formed a joint team and immediately headed to Cianjur Regency to survey the affected areas in need of assistance, especially for livestock and domestic animals. Accompanied by paramedic staff from the North Cianjur UPTD Puskeswan, the joint team visited several locations and recorded the animals and the urgent needs that had to be provided for them.

Sintesia Animalia Indonesia provided periodic assistance in the form of food, medicine, vitamins, and materials for cage repairs. The distribution of aid was coordinated with the North Cianjur UPTD Puskeswan. On Sunday, December 11, 2022, the Sintesia team returned to Cianjur Regency to deliver material aid for the animals and provide moral support to disaster victims, especially animal owners.

Indonesia is a country that is prone to disasters, unfortunately Indonesia does not yet have special procedures for handling animals when a disaster occurs. Sintesia, with support from Animals Australia has been involved in distributing aid to companion animals and livestock during 2 disasters (floods and landslides in Bali, and an earthquake in Cianjur, West Java). It is very important for the Indonesian government to start thinking about special prevention and handling procedures when a disaster occurs.

“This disaster is heartbreaking; imagine how the victims and their animals go through these conditions and struggle to survive. This disaster has separated many people from their families, animals and homes which hold many memories. We saw a lot of destruction but also a lot of gratitude. So, we’re happy to be able to share what they’re feeling.”

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Our Steps to Shut Down Dog Meat Distribution and Trade in Bali

One Health Collaborating Center Udayana University (UNUD) and Animals International Bali held a discussion forum on Human and Animal Welfare.

This led to a recommendation to the Bali Government to close down the Dog Meat Trade and was responded to by the Bali Government with the issuance of a Bali Governor’s Circular Letter on the issue of the dog meat trade in Bali, as well as requesting a study to further understand the Dog Meat Trade in Bali.

This initiated a multidisciplinary movement to end the trade through data collection by Udayana University (UNUD) researchers (funded and employed by Animals Australia), and a series of visits targeting the Dog Meat Trade by District-level Satpol PP, and the Agriculture Office.

In January Animals International Bali began research, and a series of visits in Badung, Gianyar, Tabanan Regency and Denpasar City. The aim of the visits was to collect sociodemographic data, educate and convince dog meat traders to stop the activity.

In April, the Badung Agriculture and Food Service and Animals International organized a Focus Group Discussion on “The Impact of the Dog Meat Trade on Tourism and Culture”. This resulted in recommendations to stakeholders to enforce and issue regulations supporting the closure of the Dog Meat Trade. In response to the recommendation, 2 customary villages in Badung Regency issued customary village regulations banning the Dog Meat Trade.

Research studies and visits continued to cover all regencies and cities in Bali.

The absence of specific legislation hampered the closure visits, therefore in October, UNUD’s Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Murdoch University’s School of Veterinary and Life Science, and Animals International organized a Focus Discussion Group “Synchronization, Implementation and Enforcement of Animal Welfare Laws in Bali – Ending the Dog Meat Trade”. A draft animal welfare legal framework relevant to the Dog Meat Trade was developed and validated by the UNUD Legal Team.

Research and study visits continue to be conducted by Animals International Bali.

In April, UNUD’s Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Murdoch University’s School of Veterinary Medicine and Life Sciences, and Animals International organized an Animal Welfare Legal Framework Socialization seminar “Ending the Dog Meat Trade in Bali”. The seminar was attended by law enforcement agencies (Police, Satpol PP, PPNS) at Provincial and District levels. The participants jointly declared “Bali is free from Dog Meat Trade”. The seminar also resulted in recommendations to the Bali Government to form a Task Force Team and issue special regulations.

The Bali Government responded by issuing a Letter of Instruction prohibiting the Dog Meat Trade and Distribution, as well as the formation of a Task Force Team.

Following its formation, the Task Force Team actively conducted visits to dog meat trading sites around Bali. The Task Force Team’s ongoing visits are conducted to ensure outlets remain closed, prevent new ones from opening, and shut down those that are still operating.

Animals International Bali is collaborating with Bali Animal Defender to strengthen animal protection efforts. The collaboration is supported by Animals Australia, which provides guidance, support and training to both teams. The approach used was more responsive, planned, sustainable and targeted, aiming to increase their capacity to protect animals effectively.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, street feeders, stray animal rescuers and volunteers ‘unofficially’ monitored the dog meat trade as movement restrictions prevented the Task Force Teams from operating. However, the monitoring was also very limited and the Task Force Team only conducted emergency reporting.

The joint team of Animals International Bali and Bali Animal Defender have strengthened their partnership and formulated more effective working policies by combining scientific and legal expertise. Together, they have successfully handled more than 100 cases of animal welfare violations using a mediation approach involving local government and village officials. In addition, they successfully prosecuted three major animal cruelty cases in Bali. The collaboration has also managed to build trust between government agencies and managed to convince 3 key government agencies (Police, Satpol PP, and TNI) to participate in monitoring, as well as gaining support from various stakeholders.

Supervision and closure of DMTD using the Governor’s Instructions continue to be implemented. Both teams are building stronger relationships with the Bali Satpol PP to address the DMTD issues more strategically to achieve sustainable solutions.

Animals Australia facilitated both teams to increase their professionalism and efficiency. By combining the expertise of Animals International Bali and Bali Animal Defender, they collaborated to form a stronger and more effective animal welfare foundation called Sintesia Animalia Indonesia. Using a purposeful strategy, they are determined to solve Indonesia’s animal welfare challenges and gain more trust from the government and the public.

The goal is to combine the strengths of each team: Animals International Bali focuses on scientific and legal approaches in general, while Bali Animal Defender has extensive experience in using the law to deal with animal cruelty cases. With this collaboration, they hope to achieve greater results in animal protection in Indonesia.

After years of conducting supervision, fostering public education, and working to enhance community understanding, Satpol PP has taken a significant step by initiating the formation of the Trantibum Regional Regulation. This regulation, aimed at maintaining public order and security, notably includes a specific article banning the trade and distribution of dog meat. Recognizing the growing concerns surrounding this issue, Satpol PP views this regulatory measure as a concrete and long-term solution to address the problem, reflecting their commitment to both public welfare and ethical governance.

Sintesia, actively educated Satpol PP units across Bali on animal welfare, emphasising the importance of banning the DMTD from both a One Health and Welfare, legal and culture & religion moral ethics

Sintesia Animalia Indonesia’s fight against the circulation and trade of dog meat has yielded significant results thanks to close collaboration with the Bali Province Satpol PP. On July 28, 2023, the Governor of Bali officially passed the Bali Province Regional Regulation Number 5 Year 2023. This regulation includes a ban on the circulation and trade of dog meat, as well as emphasizing the prohibition against neglect and abuse of animals or livestock. This is an important milestone in the effort to protect and respect animal welfare in Bali.

Sintesia continues to educate the Satpol PP in Bali Province to strengthen and enhance understanding, provide time for discussions regarding activities and issues on the ground, and the main objective is to stop the Trade and Circulation of Dog Meat (DMTD).

In addition, this regulation also prohibits forms of violence against animals and currently Sintesia is developing technical guidelines to support the relevant articles and their implementation in the future.

Sintesia Animalia Indonesia initiated law enforcement, and the first trial took place in Buleleng (Table of cases or trial needed). During the year 2024, there were 13 dog meat traders prosecuted under the applicable regional regulation.

The Sintesia Animalia Indonesia Foundation continues to conduct regular surveillance, monitoring, and education to ensure that dog meat traders who have closed do not operate again.

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