MAPUSA
With the Supreme Court keeping a close watch on the stray dog issue across the country, the State government has moved to bring stray dogs from the beaches under a formal management plan, inviting residents, NGOs and animal welfare organisations to adopt them before they are sterilised, vaccinated and relocated to authorised animal shelters.
The Department of Tourism has given interested individuals and organisations seven days to submit applications expressing their willingness to adopt dogs found along Goa’s beaches. The move comes against the backdrop of the Supreme Court’s directions in the suo motu writ petition in which the issue of stray dogs in public places is under judicial scrutiny.
The State government has decided to treat beach stretches frequented by residents and tourists as public places falling within the ambit of the court’s directions, bringing the management of stray dogs along these stretches into sharper focus.
Under the proposed exercise, the Tourism Department intends to facilitate the sterilisation and vaccination of stray dogs found along all beach stretches in Goa, followed by their relocation to designated and authorised animal shelters, in accordance with applicable laws, court directions and animal welfare guidelines.
However, the notice offers an opportunity for members of the public and animal welfare groups to come forward and take responsibility for the dogs through adoption before the authorities proceed with further action.
Applicants must provide their name and address, proof of address, the number of dogs they propose to adopt and an undertaking to ensure proper care, feeding, shelter and welfare of the animals.
Applications have to be submitted to the Department of Tourism at Paryatan Bhavan, Patto, Panaji.
The government has stated that dogs for which no adoption applications are received within the stipulated period will be managed in accordance with the applicable laws and the Supreme Court’s directions, including sterilisation, vaccination and relocation to authorised shelters, wherever permissible.
The department stresses that the entire process must be carried out humanely, with due regard to the safety and welfare of the animals.
The initiative places the onus on the public and animal welfare organisations to help the government find a solution to the presence of stray dogs along Goa’s beaches, which are among the State’s most heavily frequented public spaces.
It also brings into focus the challenge of balancing public safety and the interests of tourists with the need to ensure humane treatment of animals.
While the department notice issued on October 9 sets out the broad course of action, it does not specify the number of stray dogs identified along Goa’s beaches, the capacity of authorised shelters or the arrangements and timelines for carrying out the proposed relocation.
