Panaji: Dog registration, licencing, and sterilisation bylaws will be made available for public objections and suggestions within two to three days, after which they will be finalised, officials said at the State Animal Birth Control Implementation and Monitoring Committee meeting held on Tuesday.
The meeting focused on regulating and managing the dog population across Goa.
Pankaj Rane, an official from the Directorate of Municipal Administration (DMA), said the office had already submitted a detailed proposal to the committee. While members generally agreed with the proposal, they requested additional time to review the suggested licensing bylaws.
As per the proposed fee structure, sterilised and vaccinated Indian (Indie) dogs would be licensed for Rs 100, while breed dogs under similar conditions would be charged Rs 1,000. Any unsterilised dog, regardless of breed, would attract a fee of Rs 5,000. Stray dogs without owners would be registered free of cost.
“These are only proposals at this stage,” Rane said, adding that the aim is to register all dogs—owned and stray—to maintain accurate data and promote responsible ownership. He referred to the recent dog attack in Ponda while stressing the need for urgent statewide implementation.
“Sometimes people buy breed dogs and abandon them after a year. Microchipping can help track such cases and prevent animal abuse,” said Rane. The chip, about the size of a grain of rice, would be inserted under the dog’s skin and is already in use in other states.
Rane also noted that registration is a legal requirement under the Goa Municipalities Act and the Corporation of the City of Panaji (CCP) Act.
Tourists bringing dogs to Goa for short visits will not be required to register them. However, sterilisation is mandatory for all other dogs, with non-compliance attracting a Rs 5,000 fine.
“Dog registration is very important to understand sterilisation status and reduce issues like animal abuse and abandonment,” Rane said.
