Goa

Goa Govt Plans to Ban Dangerous Dog Breeds in Next Assembly Session

Herald Team

The Goa Cabinet has approved the Goa Animal Breeding, Domestication, Regulation & Compensation Bill, 2025, which is set to be introduced in the Assembly session starting July 21. The proposed legislation aims to regulate animal breeding and ownership in the state, placing strong emphasis on public safety and responsible pet ownership.

A key highlight of the bill is the ban on the import, sale, and breeding of certain aggressive dog breeds, including Pit Bulls, Rottweilers, and Bulldogs. This move comes after a series of serious dog attack incidents in Goa, such as a Pit Bull mauling a child in Anjuna and Rottweiler attacks reported in Taleigao and Assagao. The legislation also aligns with a central government directive prohibiting 23 breeds classified as “ferocious” and potentially dangerous to human life.

Current owners of these breeds will be permitted to keep their pets, provided they follow strict safety norms. The bill also includes provisions for compensating victims of animal attacks and introduces penalties—such as fines, imprisonment, or community service—for those who violate its rules. Additionally, it lays out detailed guidelines to encourage responsible animal care and domestication.

Other notable Cabinet decisions:

  • Renaming the River Navigation Department as the Inland Waterways Department and separating it from the Captain of Ports.

  • Approval to recruit 170 specialists, consultants, technicians, and staff nurses (including 100 nurses) under the Directorate of Health Services on a contractual basis.

  • Formation of the Goa State National Service Scheme (NSS) Cell along with staff recruitment.

  • Amendment to the Factories & Boilers Act to promote ease of doing business.

  • Sanctioning new posts in public prosecution, the IT Startup Promotion Cell, and the Dental College.

  • Granting a one-year extension to the Pension Cell.

  • Launch of the Goa Vehicle Authentication (GoVA) System, which will integrate vehicle verification with state registration and police systems.

  • Approval to allot 800 sq. mtrs of land in Tuem for a Non-Communicable Disease Screening (NCDS) centre under the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

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