PANAJI
The District Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (DSPCA) of North Goa has raised concerns regarding “feeding centres” for stray dogs being set up in the State.
Responding to one such feeding centre for stray dogs set up by an individual at a housing society in Chimbel, DSPCA Hon Executive Secretary Kabir Gama-Roy claimed that the proposed ‘feeding centres and feeding model’ “display lack of knowledge and experience with stray dogs, and the governing laws.”
“It is common for those who have no compassion for stray dogs to refer to them as a menace and their care givers as a nuisance. This conflicts with the 79th Mann ki Baat of our prime minister (and various courts) who praised them for their compassion and service to society.”
“Anyone who has experience with stray dogs would know that they would recoil from feeding at enclosed areas, and will feed only at places within their territorial habituation. Creating arbitrary “Feeding Centres” is not only ignorant of stray dog mindsets but, any attempt to force them, or feeders, to such “centres “would be patently unlawful and actionable,” stated Gama-Roy.
Gama-Roy stated that the high court at Delhi, in two landmark orders in 2010 and in June this year, has made it abundantly clear that feeding locations need the consensus of three parties: the Feeders, the aggrieved and the territorial limits of the dogs.
“No individual/group/society, or entity, can unilaterally decide on feeding areas or “models”. This is endorsed by the Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI), another Statutory Body created under the said PCA Act.
“The only body authorised to arbitrate in arriving at a consensus between feeders and aggrieved parties, and determine feeding areas, is the Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI). In Goa, in the absence of any representative of the AWBI, a DSPCA Officer can mediate.”
“No local authority, be it panchayat/municipality or the Registrar of Coop Societies, can give directions/permissions in conflict with the directions of courts, the advisories of the AWBI or provisions of centrally enacted laws. In fact, the State Registrar of Coop Societies has carefully advised compliance with all laws,” Gama-Roy added.
