Shahin Bepari Lambe
Panaji: To address the issue of dog bite cases, the state is set to establish its first-ever Animal Birth Control (ABC) centres at three locations, senior government officials said. The locations are yet to be been identified.
Officials said the centres are not dog shelters as directed by the Supreme Court but are meant strictly for handling dog bite cases as per the
SOP issued by the Animal Welfare Board of India.
“This is the first time the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) is being actively implemented, even though the rules have existed for a long time,” they said.
The centres will be used in cases where dogs are reported to have bitten multiple people.
“If repeated aggression is reported a trained dog-catching squad will secure the dog in a humane manner for observation at an ABC facility”.
As per the SOP, such dogs will be captured and taken to the centres for observation. After the observation period they will be released back to the same location from where they were picked up, officials said.
At the facility, the animal will be examined by a three-member committee consisting of a veterinarian, a local ABC authority representative, and a member from an DSPCA or Animal Welfare Board of India-recognised animal welfare organisation. The dog will then be kept under observation for at least seven days to determine if it is a habitual biter. If the dog is found to be non-aggressive after observation it will be sterilised, vaccinated, and released back to its original location.
“Along with these aggressive dogs other dogs that cannot be rehabilitated like old, sick, disabled will also be kept at the centres but not for mass permanent confinement,” said the officials, adding they will be released after one to two weeks of observation.
Article 51A (G) says it is fundamental duty to be compassionate towards animals.
