Staff Reporter
Panaji
The Department of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Services (AH&VS) along with Mission Rabies is all set to begin a special sterilisation drive from April 1 at the state beaches to address the issue of stray dog attacks. Around 2,000 dogs are expected to be sterilised during
the drive.
“The cases of dog bites along Goa’s beaches are on the rise, and it doesn’t go well for the image of the tourism industry. To tackle this problem, the government has arranged a special drive to neuter the stray dogs at the beaches,” said an official of the AH&VS.
In the south, the beaches of Betalbatim, Benaulim, Majorda and Colva will be taken up first while in the north, beaches of Candolim, Calangute, Baga, Arambol, Ozran and Vagator will be covered. Additionally, Mission Rabies team will also conduct sessions to educate citizens, hotel staff, shack owners and guests on dog behaviour, garbage disposal and dumping of pups.
“Pamphlets will be distributed to the guests staying in hotels along the beaches and hoardings will be erected explaining dos and don’ts while interacting with stray dogs on the beaches,” said the official.
The drive will be conducted simultaneously along the beaches of North and South Goa.
“As far as South Goa is concerned, we have set up a temporary sterilisation camp on the premises of the Fisheries Department in Colva. In North Goa, we will pick up the dogs from the beaches, take them to the WVS Centre in Assagao and drop them back,”
the official said.
