THE GOAN
PANAJI
A walk along the beach often includes the sun, sand, sea and more often than not… stray dogs. While many are loved and fed by beachgoers, cases of dog bites have also raised concerns. With the Supreme Court keeping a close watch on the issue, the State government has invited residents, NGOs, and animal welfare organisations to adopt beach dogs within seven days; otherwise, they will be sterilised, vaccinated, and relocated to authorised animal shelters.
Shelter concerns
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant has assured no stray dog menace on Goa’s beaches this tourist season and that the government will ensure their care. However, this raises questions about whether existing shelters have the resources to keep more dogs, especially when many animal welfare organisations operate without government funding. “Animal welfare NGOs in Goa are already operating under considerable pressure. We do not have the shelter infrastructure or resources to accommodate large numbers of healthy, free-roaming dogs indefinitely,” said Sejal, the trustee of Angels for Animals in Corjuem, Aldona. She pointed out that these organisations are already involved in sterilisation, rescue and medical treatment. Sweta Sardessai, director of Panjim Animal Welfare Society (PAWS), also noted that Goa has no designated permanent shelters for stray dogs. “The NGOs operating in Goa run Animal Birth Control (ABC) centres and clinics, which are not Animal Welfare Board of India-designated,” she said.
Public opposition
The concerns are also reflected in an online petition that has garnered over 800 signatures. “Dogs cannot simply be treated as unwanted objects to be removed from public view,” it states, questioning where the shelters are, how many dogs they can accommodate and who will provide food and medical care. It warns that without adequate facilities, the plan could lead to overcrowding, neglect and suffering.
Long-term solution
For animal welfare organisations, relocation is not a sustainable long-term solution to Goa’s street dog population. “While adoption should certainly be encouraged, permanently sheltering large numbers of healthy dogs is neither a practical nor a sustainable long-term solution to Goa's street dog population,” notes Sejal. According to Sweta, the only sustainable solution is an aggressive, state-wide sterilisation drive. “Sterilisation must be carried out intensively and simultaneously across Goa to achieve meaningful, long-term results,” she says.
Need for support
Sejal also stresses the need for systematic sterilisation and vaccination, in line with existing rules and court directions. “The solution lies in systematic, sustained and scientifically managed sterilisation and anti-rabies vaccination programmes, in accordance with the Animal Birth Control Rules, 2023, and applicable Supreme Court directions.” She believes the problem needs to be addressed at its source, with NGOs given the support to expand their sterilisation capacity. However, she points to difficulties in obtaining no-objection certificates from local panchayats and securing land on a 10-year lease, which have prevented them from proceeding despite their willingness to invest in the necessary infrastructure. “If we want NGOs to be part of the solution, we must also create an environment in which they can do their work,” she says.
Collective effort
Sweta says NGOs are willing to work with communities and government authorities to address the issue. “All NGOs are willing to come together to address this issue effectively and humanely through sterilisation,” she says, urging people to document suspicious dog relocations and report them. “No individual or organisation has the right to pick up and relocate dogs arbitrarily,” she adds. Sejal also stresses the need for cooperation, saying, “These challenges can be resolved through cooperation between the Government, local authorities and animal welfare organisations.”
Responsible ownership
Beyond the immediate issue of beach dogs, the organisations point to unsterilised pet dogs, uncontrolled breeding and abandonment as factors contributing to the free-roaming dog population. Unwanted litters and pets abandoned in public places, including beaches, add to the problem. “Responsible pet ownership, sterilisation of owned dogs, prevention of abandonment and public education must become integral parts of Goa's animal population management strategy,” says Sejal. She adds, “We cannot solve a population problem without preventing the next generation of unwanted animals.”
Sweta says the responsibility cannot be left to NGOs alone. “It must become a people's movement, with everyone working together to protect our community animals in a lawful, humane and sustainable manner.”
As the government prepares to move ahead with its plan, the question remains whether relocation can be carried out without compromising animal welfare. Animal welfare organisations stress that a coordinated, funded and long-term approach involving the Government, local authorities, NGOs and communities is needed to address public safety while ensuring the dogs are cared for humanely.
