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Australian woman's mission to put the spotlight on treatment of dogs in Bali

An Australian woman has made it her mission to help rescue dogs in Bali, particularly pit bulls, and expose what she says is an "absolute crisis" when it comes to the animal welfare situation on the island.

Sarahanne Cody, 32, who is a personal trainer and fitness model, made the move to Indonesia earlier in the year after always planning to live there one day.

Ms Cody, had been making money blogging, writing meal plans and training programs when she said she saw "Bali’s dark side".

"It’s become acceptable to torture animals, they have ceremonies where dogs are sacrificed, western breed dogs are kept in cages or chained until the rot (sic)," Ms Cody told Yahoo7.

"Dog meat restaurants are still opening up in popular tourist locations and the dogs are stolen pets."

An Australian woman hopes to open a shelter to help rescue dogs in Bali. Source: Supplied
An Australian woman hopes to open a shelter to help rescue dogs in Bali. Source: Supplied

The animal lover said the situation has not changed and may even be getting worse.

"150,000 people have been evacuated from the village surrounding Mt Agung for over 5 weeks and all the animals were left behind," she told Yahoo7.

The 32-year-old said this dog was bashed by his owner before being rescued. Source: Supplied.
The 32-year-old said this dog was bashed by his owner before being rescued. Source: Supplied.

Ms Cody's mission in life first changed when she came across an Indonesian woman who had rescued a number of puppies which were being beaten with sticks.

The woman was desperately seeking shelter for the dogs so the 32-year-old offered to take in a couple of them.

She explained, "2 puppies led to 5 which led to me being asked to ride my scooter and pick up dumped puppies.

"My villa turned into a shelter and vets would come to my villa to treat."

Ms Cody's first two puppies. Source: Supplied
Ms Cody's first two puppies. Source: Supplied

She claimed people then began leaving dead animals at her villa - and eventually she flew home to Australia. Now she travels between the two locations.

Ms Cody said, "When home I do as much work as I can as a personal trainer, model and nutrition coach and bring the money back in."

After word spread about the help she was doing, Ms Cody met her friend who was a solo rescuer and single mother.

The pair now work together and aim to operate a shelter.

Ms Cody said, "I asked all my friends to put in money to secure a big property in Bali to run a shelter to house our rescues."

Once it is set up, she said it will be a place to house the rescued dogs until they are adopted, but it is just a shell at the moment.

"I have sacrificed a lot and spent every cent in own in helping the dogs in Bali. It’s my calling and I will never walk away. I’ve made a lifelong commitment to making a difference here," she said.

Ms Cody had not originally travelled to Bali to help dogs but claimed she saw a
Ms Cody had not originally travelled to Bali to help dogs but claimed she saw a

At the moment her focus is on pit bulls. She has a nine-year-old male named Toby at home which she says helped her through post traumatic stress.

"He saved my life and now I save the lives of pit bulls."

"There are very few people on the island experienced working with this breed so we have committed to the pit bulls but continue to be a voice for all animals.It also stops us being lumped with 100s of dogs."

She says every dog they help makes it all worth it - but that there is a lot more to be done.

"The next milestone is to turn the project into a proper charity so I can continue to help well into the future."

"Maybe run a mass vaccination and sterilisation day in the future if funds allow."

A crowd funding page is operating in an attempt to raise some more money for the cause.