Aussie's $20,000 bill after leaving Bali as she desperately tries to raise money: 'It's important to me'

Published: 02:47, 4 August 2026 | Updated: 02:54, 4 August 2026 An Aussie who rescued a stray puppy while living in Bali has been hit with a staggering $20,000 bill as she tries to bring her dog back to her home country. Sunshine Coast local Madelynn Davey, 27, found the puppy abandoned, alone and hungry on the Indonesian island while living there with her boyfriend.  'I picked her up, we took her home, and that's why we probably stayed in Bali for as long as we did,' she told Yahoo.  Ms Davey returned to Australia last year and is now navigating one of the world's strictest and most expensive pet import processes in a bid to reunite with the rescue dog she named Sadie. 'I'm a big animal lover and Sadie is such a sweet dog. We love her so much,' Ms Davey said. 'It's important to me to give her the life she deserves because she came from nothing,' she added.  The lengthy process includes vaccinations, microchipping, blood and parasite testing, extensive paperwork, cargo flights and six months' quarantine in Singapore to ensure Sadie is free from disease before entering Australia.  Altogether, the process is expected to cost an eye-watering $20,000. Madelynn Davey will have to pay $20,000 to reunite with the Bali puppy she rescued The hefty price tag covers medical testing, cargo flights, paperwork and quarantine fees  Once in Australia, Sadie will spend up to 30 days in quarantine in Melbourne, making the relocation process as lengthy as it is expensive.  Already back in Australia, Ms Davey is prioritising work and saving to cover the costs of bringing Sadie home.  'Sadie is my responsibility, and I will keep doing my part to build a better life for her,' she said. Stray dogs are common in Bali, with an estimated 700,000 on the streets, according to animal welfare charity Mission Paws’ible.  Some social media users questioned whether the cost was justified after Ms Davey's story was shared online. 'Can't you just get a new dog? It would be cheaper,' one person said. '$20k for a dog? You are out of your mind,' another added. 'Think how many homeless dogs could be saved with these funds,' a third added. Sadie was one of the thousands of stray dogs living on the streets of Bali  Ms Davey and her boyfriend want to give Sadie 'the life she deserves' Many others rallied behind Ms Davey's decision, with some donating to her GoFundMe campaign. 'Way to go. I hope you can raise the money you need to bring her home,' one said.  Others shared their own experiences of relocating pets overseas. 'Cost me $3,000 to move my dog to Ireland. It's crazy the prices Australia charge to relocate a dog.' 'Moved four dogs from the USA to Australia. Total cost was $38,000 AUD.' 'I'm bringing my dog back to Australia from Germany and it's costing me a bit over $12,000, and that's on the cheaper end because he was originally from Australia.' Despite the cost and lengthy process, Ms Davey said she has no regrets. She said Sadie has 'made ordinary days feel special' and 'made everything feel a little less lonely'.