PANAJI: The District Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (DSPCA), North Goa, has called for the creation of a compassionate and lawful society where animals are treated with kindness and respect.
The appeal comes amid growing outrage over the alleged shooting of a pet dog in Navelim. A family from Belem, Navelim, filed a complaint over ten days ago, accusing one Jovito Fernandes of firing four pellets from an air gun at a dog belonging to Valentina, a local resident. The dog sustained injuries in the incident.
In a circular issued today, the DSPCA reminded the public that harming animals is not only immoral but also a punishable offence. It reiterated that under Article 51A(g) of the Constitution and the Animal Birth Control (ABC) Rules, 2023, it is the duty of all citizens, including residents, builders, housing societies, panchayats, and municipalities, to care for community animals.
The circular further clarified that acts of compassion, such as feeding and caring for community animals, are legally protected. “Feeding community animals helps make them human-friendly and is a legally protected activity. Caregivers must not be harassed or intimidated,” it stated, adding that no feeder can be held responsible for the actions of community animals, as these are not privately owned pets.
The DSPCA also stressed that complaints of dog bites must be dealt with in a humane manner and in accordance with the Standard Operating Procedure. Any act of cruelty, such as hurting, maiming, poisoning, or killing community animals, is a criminal offence under Section 325 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), punishable with imprisonment of up to five years, a fine, or both.
