My Story
My name is Björn Medernach, and I’m the founder of the Bali Dog Association.
Before dedicating my life to rescue, I worked internationally as a technology consultant for the Kinegram Group, protecting government documents and currencies in more than fifty-five countries.
In 2017, I came to Bali — and two dogs changed everything.
Their names were Coco and Flow. I found them in Uluwatu, frightened, hungry, and fighting to survive.
I didn’t plan to start a foundation, but when I looked into their eyes, I knew I couldn’t walk away.
That simple act of compassion became my life’s purpose.
Over the years, I built what became the largest independent dog shelter in Bali, caring for more than 500 rescued dogs on land the size of two football fields.
When my father passed away, I inherited his life’s savings — over 250,000 Swiss francs.
I used every franc to build that shelter, to feed the hungry, to heal the wounded, and to give Bali’s forgotten dogs a home.
That inheritance became a legacy of love — transformed into food, medicine, and protection for those who had no one else.
Today, after investing everything and facing deep personal debt, I continue this mission because love cannot be measured in money — only in lives saved.
Our story has reached the world, featured in over 50 international publications, including Business Insider, Yahoo Finance, Women’s Health UK, Daily Mail, and Le Parisien.
During the pandemic, I combined rescue and hospitality, creating experiences where travelers could meet rescued dogs through hotels and hostels.
From that idea, the Puppy Yoga Experience was born — a place where visitors connect with rescued puppies, many of whom have since found loving international homes.
Now, together with my partner Sepriani Tangdan, I am preparing to build the next chapter of our journey —
the Pawtastic Bali Dog Project, a sanctuary where rescue, education, and sustainability meet.
Why I Started Pawtastic
After rescuing hundreds of dogs, I learned a painful truth: rescue alone is not enough.
The only way to truly reduce suffering is through sterilization and education.
One unsterilized female can give birth twice a year, with around six puppies each time. Within five years, this can lead to millions of new dogs, most of them born into hunger, disease, and neglect.
That is why Pawtastic is built on prevention.
Our goal is to establish a sterilization and education center that can perform 2,400 operations per year, saving millions of lives before they ever face pain.
The second part is education.
If we teach local children compassion and care, we can change the future of how animals are treated in Bali forever.
The vision is ready — but the construction has not yet started.
We are still searching for funding and supporters to bring this dream to life.
What Pawtastic Will Become
The Pawtastic Center will be built on 160 m² of land, designed as a living ecosystem where every floor has a purpose — to heal, to live, and to teach.
Ground Floor – Healing
Home to the veterinary and sterilization clinic, a living room, and one caretaker bedroom.
Here, lives will be saved daily. With 2,400 sterilizations per year, we will stop the endless cycle of suffering.
Second Floor – Home
This is where our family will live, surrounded by dogs we rescue and love every day.
By living with them, they are never alone.
Third Floor – Education & Connection
A peaceful space for puppy yoga and educational workshops.
Local children will learn how to care for animals, while visitors from around the world can join our Puppy Yoga Experience — connecting rescue, healing, and adoption.
Creating a Sustainable Future
Through our Puppy Yoga Experience and education programs, we will create a stable income stream that supports sterilizations, medical care, and daily rescue needs.
This model ensures that Pawtastic can fund itself ethically, combining compassion and sustainability.
In just five years, we will have prevented millions of stray births and inspired an entire generation of animal lovers.
Funding Goal and Construction Plan (6 Months)
Total Goal: $95,000 USD
Construction has not yet started — your support will make it possible.
| Phase | Timeline | % | Amount | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Down Payment & Groundwork | Month 1 | 25% | $23,750 | Land prep, foundation, materials |
| 2. Clinic Development | Month 2–3 | 25% | $23,750 | Build and equip veterinary center |
| 3. Family Home | Month 3–4 | 20% | $19,000 | Complete second floor |
| 4. Education Hub | Month 4–5 | 15% | $14,250 | Build rooftop and yoga area |
| 5. Equipment & Finishing | Month 5–6 | 10% | $9,500 | Interior, lighting, furniture |
| 6. Final & Working Capital | Month 6 | 5% | $4,750 | Launch and 3-month buffer |
Every phase will be fully documented with progress photos, transparent cost reports, and updates for donors worldwide.
The Sandbox Partnership
Art, Technology, and Compassion United
Pawtastic is not only a place of healing. It is a place of global connection.
I am proud to collaborate with The Sandbox, one of the most visionary metaverse ecosystems in the world, to unite real-world rescue with digital creativity.
This partnership reflects a new era where technology and compassion come together to build hope and opportunity.
At the entrance of the Pawtastic Bali Dog Project, the entire wall will be dedicated to The Sandbox as our main sponsor, transformed into a powerful living artwork created by local Balinese artists.
The mural will tell the story of love, community, and the unbreakable bond between humans and animals — celebrating both the cultural soul of Bali and the global innovation of The Sandbox.
Through this partnership, Sandbox will be honored not only in the metaverse but also in the real world. Every visitor, volunteer, and supporter will see this collaboration come to life in every brushstroke, every photograph, and every act of compassion shared on the grounds of Pawtastic.
We will host live and digital events where The Sandbox will be recognized as our official sponsor, connecting the digital world of creativity with the physical world of purpose.
The global Sandbox community will always be invited to visit Bali, join our mission, and experience firsthand how technology and empathy can build a kinder future.
Bali is home to countless talented artists whose creativity captures the island’s heart and history.
In the future, we plan to integrate Balinese artists into The Sandbox NFT collections, giving them access to a global stage while raising funds for local families, creative education, and animal welfare initiatives.
By combining NFT art collections, cultural events, and community experiences, we can create opportunities that empower local people and provide fair, sustainable income.
Most Balinese workers earn between 3 to 5 million Indonesian Rupiah per month — approximately 190 to 320 USD — often with no long-term job security.
Through Pawtastic, we aim to create stable and dignified employment by hiring local builders, caretakers, veterinarians, and artists, ensuring that every part of this project uplifts both animals and people.
When visitors attend our Puppy Yoga sessions or future Sandbox art events, they won’t just be supporting rescue — they’ll be supporting Balinese families, helping them to build a better future for their children and their communities.
This collaboration between The Sandbox and Pawtastic is more than a sponsorship.
It is a movement that proves that when art, technology, and compassion unite, lives change — both human and animal.
Art can heal. Innovation can fund rescue. Community can save lives.
Main Sponsor: The Sandbox — Where Innovation Meets Compassion
Follow our journey:
Instagram @balidogassociation
From My Heart
“When my father passed a@balidogassociationay, I took his life’s savings — over 250,000 Swiss francs — and turned it into a home for 500 dogs who had none.
I’ve given everything I have to fight suffering and create hope, but now I need your help to finish what I started.
With $95,000, we can build the Pawtastic Center, perform 2,400 sterilizations a year, and prevent millions of dogs from being born into pain.
Together, we can make compassion the foundation of Bali’s future.”— Björn Medernach, Founder of Bali Dog Association
