Team Herald
PANJIM: In a bid to make Bardez rabies free and control the dog pollution, a massive eight-day special free vaccination, sterilisation drive for stray and pet dogs will be organised in the taluka from February 21.
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This was announced by Minister for Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Services (AHVS) Nilkanth Halarnkar. He said after an intensive surveillance in Goa, three cases of rabies in animals were recorded in 2023 and two in 2024. The cases of stray dog bites on beaches in Bardez taluka and rabies cases have prompted the AHVS to start the mega drive.
The minister said hundreds of volunteers will undertake the task of vaccinating, sterilising and creating awareness among the locals. In all 1,500 persons with 32 vaccination teams will be involved in the exercise.
The drive will be inaugurated by Chief Minister Pramod Sawant.
Halarnkar said the AHVS with the help of Mission Rabies completed 100 per cent vaccination and sterilisation.
“Despite the sterilisation exercises, the population of dogs has not reduced. I urge the people to help the mission to identify and eradicate rabies. The campaign will continue. We are aiming at cent percent vaccination and sterilisation, the minister said, and urged the people to help the volunteers in making the exercise successful.
Dr Murugan Appupillai, Director at Mission Rabies said that the campaign has been organised for quick action to completely eradicate rabies from Goa.
Halarnkar said that the department will soon begin a drive to identify the dogs of banned breeds in Goa.
Halarnkar made it clear that owners of such pets will have to sterilise and register their pets. “These banned breeds are dangerous for humans, as seen in Panjim and Anjuna cases,” he said.
The Minister said, “Already the Centre has done a census and some may have hidden their pets from it. We will take police protection and our veterinary doctors will identify and sterilise the pets of ferocious breeds,” he said.
