Rhonda Lepsch, founder of Bali Jet Set Petz, has 18 years of experience rescuing, raising, rehabilitating and rehoming abandoned and abused dogs - from puppies to pit bulls. She completed "Training Cesar's Way" at the Dog Psychology Centre in Santa Clarita, California. She is also a professional member of the International Association of Canine Professionals (IACP).
Bali Jet Set Petz was founded by Bali Jet Set Dive and Marine Sports ("JSM") in 2011 as part of the company's Corporate Social Responsibility Programme (CSR). I Nyoman Sugita is the owner and proprietor of JSM and Rhonda's husband of 20 years. This was done in response to the concerns regarding rabies and the number of stray, sick and injured dogs and cats in the area. The company's parking lot and their personal home had also become a dumping ground for unwanted animals having had over 600 (primarily dogs) dumped in their home and business. Unfortunately JSM closed in 2019 because of Covid and was unable to reopen.
The lack of an RSPCA or Humane Society in Bali means that unwanted puppies and cats get dumped just about everywhere - in temples, rubbish tips, empty fields and in the JSM parking lot. Nyoman and Rhonda knew that they had to come up with a sustainable solution to address the problem in the area plus they were also looking for initiatives to give back to the community and were dog lovers.
Thus Jet Set Petz was born.
We believe that education, sterilisation and vaccination along with the promotion of responsible pet ownership is the only way to improve the health and lives of animals in the area and also to address the rabies virus. Many poor people in the area, whilst they love their dogs and cats, simply do not have the means to sterilise and vaccinate them as these costs and represent up to 30% of one month's salary.
To-date we have sterilised, vaccinated and assisted over 5,000 animals. Our programme is small but focused on making a specific area better and also setting an example for the rest of the island in the hopes that others follow and implement similar programmes. We also catch, sterilise, vaccinate and release beach and street dogs.
We also currently have 87 dogs in our care, with many available for adoption.
In 2023 we helped 625 animals.
Unfortunately due to the Covid pandemic JSM was permanently closed, but the JSP program still continues because of the kindness and generosity of the animal loving community around the world who support the program by donating.
In 2018 we introduced Canine Behaviour Solutions based on Cesar Millan's Philosophy and Rhonda's experience rescuing, raising, rehabilitating and rehoming dogs in Bali. Based upon natural laws, we seek to understand the dog's state of mind and deal with the underlying cause of the dog's behaviour. Rhonda works with many of the rescues in Bali to help rehabilitate abused dogs and prepare them for adoption.
'WHAT YOU FEEL BECOMES ENERGY AND THAT IS WHAT YOUR DOG KNOWS ABOUT YOU." - Cesar Millan