TEAM HERALD
bureau@herald-goa.com
PORVORIM: At a time when animal welfare organizations in Goa are claiming that there is a shortage of funds for sterilization of strays, the NGO ‘Mission Rabies’ along with International Animal Rescue and Goa Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (GSPCA) has sterilized more than 500 dogs in Pernem, Mapusa, Pilerne and Porvorim.
Speaking to Herald, Western Regional Manager, Mission Rabies, Goa, Dr Astrid Almeida stated that Mission Rabies was an idea born out of a desire to make difference to the lives of millions of people and dogs across India.
“With over a third of the reported human cases occurring here, India is the world’s rabies hotspot. A human life is lost to this terrible disease every 30 minutes in India,” added Dr Almeida.
“We commenced sterilization of dogs at Pernem (April 1), Mapusa (April 7), Pilerne (April 14) and Porvorim (April 21). We have sterilized over 500 dogs ~ at Pernem (130), Mapusa (180), Pilerne (100) and at Porvorim (100) so far,” informed Dr Almeida.
Dr Almeida further said animal welfare organizations in Goa do not get financial support from the State government. “The cost of sterilization and vaccination of each stray dog works out to about Rs 900. It is not possible to do free sterilization for animal welfare organizations,” added Dr Almeida.
“Financial support from the government is vital for this social activity,” Dr Almeida added.
“Further, local bodies and general public also do not cooperate with the animal welfare organizations. I have written three letters to Socorro Panchayat requesting for information like pet dog census, map of the panchayat and the phone number of panch members, but I did not receive any reply so far.”
“The best cooperation we have so far received is from Parra Panchayat, due to which we could sterilize 600 dogs in a day in September 2013. Further, people leave their pet dogs on the streets and when staff catches them for sterilization, they object to it and abuse our staff. About 50 per cent of the pet dogs in Bardez are not vaccinated,” said Dr Almeida.
