TEAM HERALD
MARGAO: The stray dog menace facing the commercial capital finally finds a mention at the meeting of the Margao Municipal Council scheduled next week.
Questions, however, are being asked whether the Civic body would finally put a mechanism in place to curb the stray menace or only confirm a previous resolution to marginally enhance the monthly charges paid to NGO, South Goa Animal Welfare Trust for Animals.
While the Civic body has proposed to enhance the monthly charges from Rs 16,000 to Rs 25,000, sources in the know said the City Fathers should take a holistic approach to the entire gamut of issues plaguing the stray dog menace.
Otherwise, just consider this. The Animal Birth Control (ABC) program is being implemented with the help of a lone dog catcher, who doubles up as a driver and medical assistant. Sources in the know said that the city is in need of minimum 3-4 dog catchers, with a provision that one catcher is available 24 hours for emergency work. “We are in a very helpless situation. The lone dog catcher has failed to meet our requirements”, remarked a member of the NGO.
That’s not all. Though a huge problem of stray dog menace stares at the city, there’s no provision for an increase in the number of cages. Presently, the existing dog shelter at Sonsodo has a provision for only 20 cages, which hardly meets the growing requirements, sources said.
“Unless, the number of cages is increased to minimum 100, the ground reality will not change for the better. Besides, there’s still no provision for space for the disposal of the dead animals. We are forced to dispose them off in the municipal bins for want of space”, informed sources in the know.
