FRIDAY, APRIL 26, 2024
Team Herald
MARGAO: GOACAN has written to South Goa District Collector Ajit Roy on the need for an action plan to tackle the increasing dog bite cases in South Goa before observing World Tourism Day and World Rabies Day in September.
In the letter, GOACAN stated that the NGO has been receiving complaints from the public that there has been an increase in cases of dog bites in various villages of South Goa more particularly in Margao and the coastal belt of Salcete Taluka. The harsh reality was demonstrated by the recent case of a family being attacked and a three-year-old boy being bitten by a pack of stray dogs in Aquem, Margao.
The NGO pointed out various suggestions for the preparation of an action plan. The Directorate of Health Services (DHS) should be requested to provide details of the number of dog bites reported at the various UHCs /PHCs/CHCs in South Goa and the District Hospital Margao for the last 18 months (January to December 2019 and January to June 2020) and the availability of the Anti-Rabies Vaccine at all the health centres in South Goa.
The Department of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Services should be requested to give their proposals/recommendations for the control of dog bites and an update on the response received for The Goa Small Animal Rescue Management Scheme, 2014 in South Goa District.
The NGO Mission Rabies is requested to give their assessment of the increase in dog bite cases, their intervention till date and steps to be taken in the near future in South Goa.
The Directorate of Municipal Administration should be requested to provide a progress report of the implementation of registration of dogs by the respective municipal councils in South Goa and on the release of grants by Margao Municipal Council to the NGO implementing the Animal Birth Control (ABC) programme.
The Directorate of Panchayats must provide a progress report of the implementation of registration of dogs by the respective village panchayats in South Goa.
Goa Police have requested to provide a list of FIRs filed in complaints against dog owners due to dog bites in the last 18 months in South Goa.
The Tourism Department is requested to provide details of any advisories prepared for domestic and foreign tourists, Dos and Don’ts for self protection from the dog bites while walking on the beach etc which are distributed at the Dabolim Airport and the Railway Stations in South Goa.
Copies of the GOACAN letter have been sent to the Chief Secretary, Secretary Health, AHVS, Tourism, Civil Supplies and GAD, Directors of Tourism, Municipal Administration and Consumer Affairs, Deputy Director South Panchayats, SP (South) Goa Police, Dr Murugan Appupillai of Mission Rabies and Deputy Collectors of Salcete, Mormugao, Ponda, Quepem, Sanguem, Dharbandora and Canacona.
