PANJIM: Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Services Minister Nilkant Halarnkar on Wednesday said that the government will launch a special ambulance-like vehicle service for street animals needing immediate medical attention in the State.
“The veterinary ambulance service like the 108 ambulance will cater to animals injured on the street and provide them immediate medical care. There will be a para vet, a doctor and an attendant to attend to injured animal which will be transported in this ambulance-like vehicle to the nearest animal husbandry and veterinary services hospital, if required. This process has already been initiated and will be launched as soon as possible,” Halarnkar said.
“Cattle get hit by vehicles and are left injured on the road. A veterinary ambulance service like 108 will lift them from the accident spot for treatment at the animal husbandry hospital. But since animals like cows, buffaloes and bulls are large in size they won’t fit in a regular ambulance hence we are making provision for a larger vehicle and it will happen. In a similar way an ambulance service will be started for smaller animals like dogs and cats,” he said.
Halarnkar said that the government will introduce a dedicated animal helpline number to receive calls on distressed animals. The formality is in process and the veterinary ambulance service will be started before the ensuing Monsoon Session of Goa Assembly.
