To stem attacks, state to frame norms to feed strays, designate feeding spots

Panaji: The indiscriminate feeding of stray dogs — one of the factors triggering canine attacks on humans — will be addressed by the department of animal husbandry & veterinary services, based on the directives of the Bombay high court at Goa. The department has begun the process of framing guidelines for feeding stray dogs. The priority is to notify the norms for feeding strays in public areas.
The officials deliberated on identifying designated feeding spots to reduce human-canine conflicts. “The guidelines are being drafted based on the feedback from various stakeholders,” said a department official. “The guidelines will be subsequently sent to the government for approval.”
The department is also mulling policy changes to ensure that stray dogs and pet dogs are registered, vaccinated, and sterilised as required by the Animal Welfare Board of India’s rules.
The department had held a meeting on Tuesday at the secretariat to discuss the “revision of the policy for street and pet dog caregiving” in Goa.
“The challenging part is permitting feeding within residential housing societies since not all societies have adequate space,” said a stakeholder.
In an order issued in November 2022, the high court had asked the state government to frame the guidelines with “utmost urgency”.
The court had given the state government six weeks.
“Time has come for the local authorities to pull up their socks and come on board. The law and the guidelines are in place. All that needs to be done is to implement them,” said an animal lover who feeds dogs and who attended the meeting.
A legal expert and the president of the Goa branch of People for Animals, Norma Alvares, was present for the meeting and is assisting the department in framing the guidelines.
Veterinary doctors and officials from the North Goa and South Goa collectorate, Goa police, Goa Tourism Development Corporation, Mission Rabies, animal welfare organisations, and municipal administration were among the others who took part in the meeting.