LEST WE FORGET what the Director AHVS said 6 months ago about stray dogs in Goa.

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Need to sterilise stray dogs: Dr. Fernando Furtado
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There has to be a time-bound programme for sterilisation of stray dogs
in the state to bring down their population, says director of Animal Husbandry
and Veterinary Services, Dr Fernando Furtado. In an interview with
The Navhind Times, he said that at least 70 per cent of stray dogs
in the state have to be sterilised in six months and the remaining
30 per cent in the next six months.

He said that the work of catching stray dogs was being carried out by
the non-government organisations from different parts who take them
to animal shelters where they are sterilised and kept there for recuperation
for 10 days after which there are released at the same places from where
they were picked up.

He said the problem of the dogs is taken care by the non-government
organisations, like People for Animals, International Animal Rescue Centre,
Goa Animal Welfare Trust and Goa Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
These organisations are doing a good job in controlling the stray dog 
population
by sterilising them and putting to sleep the unhealthy dogs.

In reply to a question as to who funds the scheme for sterilisation, Dr 
Furtado
said that the sterilisation scheme of stray dogs is funded by the central 
government
and Rs 360 is paid for sterilisation of each dog to the NGOs. He said that his
department officials perform the sterilisation operation.

To a question on whether this scheme would help in reducing the number
of stray dogs in near future, he said this work can be said to be negligible
as the areas of operation of the NGOs are limited to some pockets in Bardez,
Tiswadi and Margao. In the talukas of Canacona, Sanguem, Mormugao,
Quepem, Bicholim, Ponda, Sattari and Pernem, there is no such work and
the dog population in these areas has multiplied manifold, he added.

To have effective control of stray dog population, he said there is need for
a time bound programme to sterilise at least 70 per cent of dog population
within a period of 6 months and the remaining within the next 6 months.
However, this is a cumbersome process and we do not have the facilities
for such a huge exercise, he added.

Dr Furtado in reply to a question on controlling rabies said each dog brought
to animal shelter for sterilisation is tagged and is also administered 
anti-rabies
vaccine before being released. However, these dogs are to be vaccinated again
after one year, which is not being being done at the moment and there are
chances of these dogs becoming rabid if bitten by any other diseased dog.

In reply to a question on the number of stray dogs in Goa, Dr Furtado said 
that
the survey of dogs is restricted to pet dogs only and the exact number of 
stray dogs
is not available but he added that according to a rough estimate there were 
over
a lakh stray dogs in the state, a figure which is quite high for the state 
of our
size and population.

In reply to a question on the number of stray dogs sterilised in the state,
he said all the NGOs in the state have so far sterilised 13,000 stray dogs
since 1999, which is a minimal figure, he added. The number of pet dogs
sterilised is upto 1,000 making a total of 14,000 the number of dogs
sterilised in the state.

On the question of any other method for reducing the number of stray dogs,
he said the dog population can be also reduced by putting to sleep all the
unhealthy and diseased dogs which would also help in preventing rabies.
The department officials put to sleep some diseased dogs which are brought
to the animal shelters by the NGOs, he added.

To a question on whether all the local self-governing bodies were co-operating
with the NGOs in controlling the stray dog population, he said only Panaji
municipal council was co-operating with the NGOs in controlling the stray
dogs population and their sterilisation, but other municipalities and 
panchayats
in the state have not shown any inclination in this drive. Many municipalities
have shown their reluctance for lack of funds for this drive, he added.

On the question of number of rabid dogs who die each year he said:
"Since no body brings a rabid dog to the veterinary centre of hospital
it is difficult to say how many rabid dogs die of this disease in the state
but at least 2-3 pet dogs die of rabies each year as per our records."

On the question of initiative taken by government to tackle the menace
of the stray animals, which are a nuisance on roads and at other public
places, he said the government has framed a scheme to control these
stray animals and an area has been earmarked at Kalay in Sanguem taluka
for a cattle pond where all the impounded stray cattle would be housed.

The owners of cattle, who let them go astray, would have to pay fees
to the government for their upkeep before they take their custody.
A fee will be charged for the maintenance of animals which will go up
as the time lapses after the cattle is brought to the pond.

The pond will be ready in about six months and the department will be
equipped with good vehicles fitted with ramps for loading and unloading
animals and transportation of these animals from different parts of the
state to the central pond, he informed.
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The Navhind Times 7/11/02
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