PANAJI
The Goa government has identified four dog breeds -- Pitbull, Rottweiler, Cane Corso and Dogo Argentino -- as ‘ferocious animals’ under the Goa Animal Breeding and Domestication (Regulation and Compensation) Act and has issued a public notice inviting objections before a final notification.
Replying to a starred question tabled by MLA Venzy Viegas in the Assembly, Minister for Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Services Nilkanth Halarnkar said the department has initiated the process to notify the breeds under Section 3 of the Act.
“The Dog breeds, namely Pitbull, Rottweiler, Cane Corso and Dogo Argentino, have been identified by the Department to be notified as ferocious animals... A public notice for inviting objections from the general public has been issued... Final notification will be notified after receiving the objections and after consideration of the same,” he said.
The minister further replied that the owners of animals declared as ferocious will be solely responsible for the actions of such animals. Owners would also be liable if such ferocious animals injure any human or other animal.
The minister said no cases relating to sterilisation or certification of such animals have been registered so far, since the final notification declaring the breeds as ferocious has not yet been issued.
He added that the ban on breeding or domestication will come into force only after the notification is published in the official gazette, a process that has already been initiated by the department.
Replying to another question, the minister further stated that the government will direct municipal bodies and panchayats to take urgent measures to ensure public safety, particularly during the peak tourist season.
“This department shall write to local bodies through Directorate of Municipal Administration and Directorate of Panchayat to take urgent measure to ensure public safety especially during peak tourist season,” he said.
He cited the Supreme Court order dated November 7, 2025 in Suo Moto Writ Petition, directing that it would be the responsibility of the jurisdictional municipal authority to immediately remove stray dogs found within the premises of educational institutions, hospitals, sports complexes, bus stands and railway stations.
Such animals must be shifted to designated shelters after sterilisation and vaccination in accordance with the Animal Birth Control Rules, 2023, the order stated.
