NT Reporter
Panaji
Once pampered on sofas and beds, many pedigree dogs later found tied to
terraces, dumped at garbage sites, or left to wander highways when their novelty fades or health issues surface. Animal welfare groups say the number of such abandonments is rising, leaving volunteers and shelters stretched beyond capacity.
Dexter Braganza, Executive Secretary of District Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (DSPCA) North Goa, said the trend reflects irresponsible ownership.
“DSPCA receives complaints and intervenes as per the law, ultimately re-homing them. The ones that are abandoned are often rescued by volunteers and shelters, who work to nurse them back to health and attempt to rehome them. But the real question is why buy a breed dog if you can’t commit 13 to 15 years? You might as well make friends with the Indies (Indian street dogs) in your locality,” he said.
Beyond abandonment, neglect is another challenge. Braganza said they saw 40 cases of feeder harassment and 35 coordinated operations by animal welfare groups. “A minimal number of fosters (two) and only two court cases highlight the lack of legal follow-through in many instances,” he said.
For rescuers like Safira Martins of PAWS, the heartbreak lies in watching pedigree dogs deteriorate in shelters. “Until yesterday, they may have had a sofa to sit on and a bed to play on. At the first sign of a skin issue, they’re abandoned. These delicate dogs don’t know how to survive on the streets, can’t forage from dustbins, and have no traffic sense. More often than not, they die of broken hearts in shelters,” she said.
Shelters and volunteers continue to bridge the gap, but with rescues far outnumbering successful rehoming, the future for many abandoned pets remains uncertain.
