PANJIM: In the wake of increasing cases of dog menace, particularly in housing societies; the Registrar of Cooperative Societies has issued detailed guidelines to co-operative housing societies in handling the matter.
The Circular pointed out that the provisions be followed of the laws such as Prevention of Cruelty to Animal Act 1960, Animal Birth Control Rules 2001, Guidelines dated February 26, 2015 by the Animal Welfare Board (Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, Government of India) and all other relevant laws that may be applicable to the issue of pet dogs/stray dogs.
It also stated that some residents at these societies are involved in facilitating, patronising and relocating stray dogs from their original habitat which leads to cruelty to such stray dogs under Animal Birth Control Rules 2001.
It further noted that some residents who pet a dog do not possess registration of these dogs and neither gets them periodically vaccinated and sterilised. As such, the Registrar has issued a set of guidelines for the management of co-operative housing societies and pet owners to ensure safety of residents.
GOACAN that pursued the matter with the authorities has hailed the decision. It said the forum is confident that this circular will help speed up the resolution of disputes in matters related to pet dogs/stray dogs being raised by residents of co-operative housing societies and the general public before the officials of various related government departments.
“As many instances of the stray dog menace affecting co-operative housing societies were brought to the notice of the RCS, it was found necessary that the RCS issue instructions keeping in mind the safety of the residents of co-operative housing societies and the public at large,” Convenor Roland Martin’s said.