Dogs' names baffle Bali elders

DENPASAR, Bali: Local elders here have often lamented the fact that the younger generation were being lured away by westernization.

Their complaints may have been well-founded on Sunday when almost all the canines participating in the Kintamani dog contest were given western names by their Indonesian owners.

I Ketut Badeng, 70, a community elder, stared in amazement as only one dog out of a parade of 43 was said to have a "traditional" name.

Once common pet names like Semprong, Belang or Ketek were nowhere to be heard. Instead, they have been replaced by the likes of Welly, Donny, Clasy and Almont.

"There's practically only one dog using a local name, Sempol. All the rest have western names," Badeng told Antara on the sidelines of the contest held by the Udayana University Veterinary Faculty and Prima tabloid.

The contest was opened by Governor Dewa Beratha and Denpasar Mayor AA Purpayoga.(mds)