Panaji: Around 98% of the 170 respondents have objected to the state government's move to ban four types of ferocious dog breeds in Goa — pitbull, rottweiler, cane corso, and dog argentino. The state government had invited objections and suggestions from the public before taking a decision and notifying the four dog breeds as ferocious.
Public Response to the Proposal
It received around 170 objections and suggestions. “Only five people have suggested that four dog breeds should be declared ferocious whereas the rest of the people have objected to the government move to declare identified dog breeds as ferocious,” a senior government officer said. “They objected to declaring a particular breed as ferocious as all of them are of the opinion that all dogs can be aggressive,” the officer added.
Next Steps for the Government
The officer said that the department will prepare a detailed proposal and it would be placed before the animal welfare board to take a final decision. “If the government decides to declare them as ferocious breeds, then the notification will be issued,” the officer said. Initially, the directorate of animal husbandry had proposed to declare five dog breeds as ferocious, but the government dropped malinois, as it is recruited by security forces.
New Legislation on Ferocious Animals
The state government recently passed the Goa Animal Breeding and Domestication (Regulation and Compensation) Bill, 2025, to prohibit the domestication and breeding of ferocious animals and ban the import of such breeds. It was notified after the assent of the government. As for the prohibition on the domestication and breeding of ferocious animals, the act says, “No person after the issuance of notification shall domesticate, breed, or cause to breed any animal of the breed or class specified in the said notification.”
“Whoever domesticates, breeds, or causes to breed any class of animals in contravention of any of the provisions of this act or the rules made thereunder, will be punished with simple imprisonment for a period which may extend to three months but shall not be less than 15 days, a fine of Rs 50,000, and community service,” the act said. The owner of a notified ferocious animal has to inform the authorities in writing about the existence of such an animal, with details as prescribed by the rules. Upon an application from the owner, a certificate will be issued confirming that the ferocious animal is duly sterilised.
