20 strays sterilised in Margao
HERALD REPORTER
MARGAO, FEB 20
Animal birth control programme continued at the dog shelter here on Sunday despite Margao Municipal Council dilly dallying on the payments to the NGO of the last two months.
Around 20 dogs were sterilized at the shelter since early Sunday morning arranged by the South Goa Welfare Trust for Animals (SGWTA).
“The NGO could have stopped the programme, but we decided to continue in the interest of the city. The Margao Civic body has not cleared our payments of the month of December and January till date,” said Trust member Sandra Fernandes.
Incidentally, it was at the initiative of this NGO that the dog shelter has become a reality today on private land. But, the trust members are exasperated over the municipality’s non-cooperation in tackling the stray dog menace.
Says Sandra: “We have made umpteen trips to the civic body for the payments, but in vain. We could have very walked out of the program as the delay on the part of the Civic body has hit us money wise”, she said.
Incidentally, though tackling stray dog menace is the Civic responsibility, the Municipal administration has till date not intervened to resolve the delay in disbursing the payments.
Sandra, however, said that time is running out, adding that the NGO would be forced to withdraw from the program if the indifferent attitude of the Civic body continues.
Incidentally, another NGO, Goa Animal Welfare Trust (GAWT) had earlier withdrawn from the ABC program in Margao due to callousness from the Civic officials towards the burning problem.
As per agreement, it is the responsibility of the Civic body to pay Rs 11000 per month to the NGO to meet the expenses on manpower, comprising of driver and dog catcher. A dog catching van is already been placed at the disposal of the NGO by the Civic body.
The NGO, however, feels that the monthly payment of Rs 11000 is a pittance, hardly sufficient to meet the requirements. IN this respect, the NGO has demanded that the Civic body make available a full time van driver and a dog catcher to tackle the menace even after odd hours.
