A feeding site for stray dogs developed by a retired consumer sales head at his housing society in Chimbel.
PANAJI
A retired consumer sales head of an oil company and resident at a housing society in Chimbel has formed an ideal stray dog feeding centre, setting an example for other animal caregivers and pet lovers in the State.
Greg D'Monte claims his model enables strays to be taken care of without violating the present framework of animal and citizen centric laws.
D'Monte has set up designated feeding areas in the territory of stray dogs. One such feeding centre is inside his housing society and the other outside with help of the panchayat is underway and is likely to be ready by October.
D'Monte has filed a petition before various government agencies and is consistently following it up with them. Following his efforts, the Registrar of Cooperative Societies recently came up with some guidelines for pet lovers and animal caregivers.
“Managing strays is a problem. Some pet lovers from the society feed these stray dogs regularly, while sterilisation and vaccination is done through government and private agencies,” said D'Monte.
He says there are, however, some problems due to unplanned and haphazard feeding of stray dogs by some enthusiastic animal caretakers.
“As per central guidelines, stray dogs should not be shifted from their natural boundaries but due to feeding done by some caretakers, dogs from different areas converge at the same spot and this creates nuisance to society residents. Besides, there are fights between these dogs and some get injured.”
“Enthusiastic animal caretakers should feed strays not as per their convenience but feeding should be done in the territory of strays, without creating any nuisance to people.”
D'Monte identified the problem in his society, when his neighbour from Delhi tried to feed strays in the society premises, creating nuisance to locals.
“The best solution to this hostility created is to set up designated feeding areas covering the territory of the strays which is also in sync with AWB laws and recent high court judgements,” says D'Monte.
D'Monte has taken the initiative to form the Kadamba Plateau Caregivers team to systematically feed the strays.
This team undertakes sterilisation of dogs and also promotes feeding and adoption of dogs, without causing nuisance to the society.
“The caregiver's job does not end by giving food to stray dogs, but he/she should also ensure the registration of dogs above the age of 3 months with the local body.”
D'Monte said annual vaccination and leashing of pet dogs while moving in public spaces should be taken care of by the caregivers.
“All these requirements are must as per law. Many animal caregivers are not aware about the laws. As pet lovers, we should see both sides and should not create nuisance while feeding strays,” said D'Monte.
