A Canggu Alley on Google Maps Named 'Very Kind and Cute Dogs' Goes Viral
A nondescript alley in Bali's Canggu area was found registered on Google Maps under the unusual name 'Very Kind and Cute Dogs,' after a Vietnamese influencer shared her visit to the spot, home to three calm stray dogs. The pin appears to have been added by someone hoping passersby would bring food for the dogs, but it has since disappeared from Google Maps after the story went viral. The episode highlights broader stray animal welfare issues and rabies risks in Bali.
Vietnamese influencer Giang Oi and her husband stumbled upon an unusually named Google Maps location, 'Very Kind and Cute Dogs,' while traveling in Bali and decided to visit it. The pin didn't lead to a restaurant or tourist attraction but to an ordinary alley in the Canggu area, home to three calm, friendly stray dogs. The location appears to have been added by a passerby who wanted other travelers to bring food and water for the dogs, rather than being an official business listing. Social media posts had previously encouraged tourists visiting Canggu to find the spot and feed the three dogs, suggesting the pin had already been known among some travelers.
After Giang Oi's post went viral, however, it was confirmed that the 'Very Kind and Cute Dogs' location had disappeared from Google Maps. There has been no official statement from Google on why or when it was removed, whether the creator deleted it themselves, the name was changed, or it was linked to increased traffic to the spot.
The episode underscores broader stray animal welfare challenges in Bali. According to the Bali Animal Welfare Association (BAWA), street dogs and other animals on the island still face hunger, disease, uncontrolled breeding, and abuse; in 2023 alone, the organization provided over 250,000 meals, administered more than 9,000 rabies vaccinations, and sterilized over 6,000 animals. Separately, figures cited by the South China Morning Post indicate that between January and May 2026, Bali recorded roughly 30,000 suspected rabies bite cases, about 21,000 people received post-exposure vaccination, and 5 people died.
Things to Consider
If you wish to interact kindly with stray dogs, first observe them from a safe distance and check for any aggressive or abnormal behavior (excessive drooling, staggering, unusual agitation) before approaching. If bitten or scratched, wash the wound thoroughly with soap and running water for at least 15 minutes and seek medical care immediately for post-exposure rabies vaccination. For those wanting to help long-term, it's advisable to contact local animal welfare organizations such as BAWA for feeding, vaccination, or sterilization support rather than publicly sharing specific locations on social media, which could expose the animals to risk.
Source: vietnam.vn