Panaji: Following the recent Supreme Court order, the Goa government is preparing a comprehensive plan of action to address the issue of stray dogs in the state, said animal husbandry minister Nilkanth Halarnkar on Tuesday.
“The directorate of animal husbandry and veterinary services is currently studying documents and representations linked to the issue before finalising any policy measures,” he told TOI.
Contentious Issue in Goa
The issue of stray dogs has remained a contentious one in Goa, with residents raising concerns over ferocious dog attacks while animal welfare groups have called for humane and scientific population-control measures through sterilisation and vaccination programmes.
Lack of Infrastructure
Halarnkar acknowledged that while infrastructure exists for dealing with stray cattle, the state lacks adequate facilities for stray dogs. “As far as stray cattle are concerned, we have gaushalas. For dogs, we don’t have any dog pound in Goa,” he said.
The state now has approximately 56,000 stray dogs. The minister said the stray dog population continued to rise despite sterilisation drives.
“The animal birth control (ABC) programme in Panaji achieved complete sterilisation coverage, but stray dogs continued to reappear. The government will soon formulate a formal strategy. We have to take a plan of action at the end of the day,” he said.
Way Forward
The government is now focusing on a multi-pronged approach that includes strengthening sterilisation efforts, establishing dog pounds, and implementing stricter regulations for pet ownership. The minister emphasised the need for community participation and awareness campaigns to ensure the success of the plan.
