I am writing today on behalf of the Goa Animal Welfare Trust (GAWT). As the Manager of the trust I was quite taken aback when I read a mention of GAWT’s activities in a front-page news article carried by Herald dated 30 July 2017, titled, “Stray Dogs cause havoc on Xaxti Coastline”. More so, since this press-release appeared in spite of there being no official statement made by any of the GAWT’s trustees, members, or staff, and without any prior intimation to us.
As per the news-piece that was published, there exists a situation of grave apprehension prevailing on the coastline in the Salcette taluka in regards with the increasing stray dog population and the related hazards. While we recognise this scenario and are trying to do our best in order to control the population via sterilisations, we do face the adversity of being located around 30 kms away, in Curchorem (Sanvordem), and of having to rely on local volunteers along the coastline to report and entrap stray dogs to bring to us. Logistically it is not as easy as it might have been if we had a presence in the affected area itself.
Stray dog population control is governed by a number of guidelines as laid down by the Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) in accordance with the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1960.
I would like to very significantly point out that in the past, around 5 to 6 years back, GAWT followed the practice of proactively feeding and rounding up stray dogs along the Benaulim-Varca coastline and getting them sterilised. However our staff members have experienced harrowing instances of resistance and confrontation from the locals mainly at the time of feeding the dogs and releasing the dogs back after the treatment or operations. There have been times when they were even threatened of being thrashed.
On approaching the local Panchayat, our then trustee was turned down by the Panchayat officials saying that we are free to take the dogs to our houses for feeding. There was no support extended, in fact there was discouragement. After a number of such instances GAWT discontinued the monsoon feeding and also the proactive approach of catching dogs and over the last number of years we only respond to individual complaints made by locals, and only pick up stray dogs after getting a consent form signed by the complainant assuring us agreement to release the dog in the same area after the surgery or treatment is done.
Since the stray dog feeding has stopped the dogs have to find alternate food sources and hence resort to venturing into nearby villages and also stealing food from picnickers. The change from the proactive to the reactive approach is what dropped the number of stray dogs being picked up and sterilised from that locality and resulted in the steady increase of the dog population which we see today.
