Ocean Grove woman establishes Bali’s first eco-friendly sanctuary for rescue dogs

An Ocean Grove woman has established the Bali’s first eco-friendly sanctuary.

Leah Singh has established the first eco-friendly dog sanctuary in Bali. Picture: Brad Fleet

                                    

Leah Singh always knew she would spend her life helping animals in need.

The Ocean Grove woman used to run a cat rescue, and now fosters animals through Geelong Animal Welfare Society.

She has taken her compassion one step further and opened the first eco-friendly sanctuary for dogs in Bali.

Ms Singh travelled to Bali many times and said she could not stand to see the way dogs were neglected.

“I would go over with medications and treat the street dogs, get them desexed and do whatever I could for the ones I could find,” she said.

“During Covid dogs were left on the streets to breed so it's a huge issue right now with puppies everywhere.”

Leah Singh and her business partner Carole at their Gaia Island of Dogs sanctuary in Bali.

Ms Singh said the idea to open a sanctuary came when she started putting dogs she rescued into boarding and thought she could be spending the same money differently.

She said she connected with a Scottish woman now living in Bali named Carole, who had the same dream.

“A lot of boarding places or sanctuaries over there are just concrete, its like the dogs are in jail, so they might as well be on the street,” she said.

“Our idea was an eco-friendly dog sanctuary that is lush, full of plant life, where the dogs are free to roam around.

Leah Singh. Picture: Brad Fleet

“This was a big dream of mine, I always knew I would go down this path.

“Carole found and rented the land and I started a campaign to try and raise money to

build a fence.”

The sanctuary, called Gaia Island of Dogs Bali, is located in Tabanan.

Ms Singh said six staff were employed to care for the 130 dogs, and between dog food and staff wages monthly expenses were $5000 before vet bills.

”Our adoption criteria is quite strict as we don’t want dogs back on the street,” she said.

“I want to build another tiny house on the sanctuary for accommodation to generate some money.”

Gaia Island of Dogs sanctuary in Bali in the first eco-friendly sanctuary in the country.

Ms Singh said her dream was to open three more sanctuaries in Bali to help more dogs.

To continue operating her current sanctuary, Ms Singh is hosting a dinner and comedy show fundraising event on August 17 from 7pm at the Ocean Grove Bowling Club.

Her husband Jason Singh will open the night with music, followed by a number of comedic performers.

Tickets can be purchased online at www.trybooking.com/events/landing/1259026

The content summaries were created with the assistance of AI technology, then edited and approved for publication by an editor.

Originally published as Ocean Grove woman establishes Bali’s first eco-friendly sanctuary for rescue dogs