Stray dog sterilisation on along Salcete coast

Colva: After several incidents of dog bites, a 19-day sterilisation programme targettig Salcete’s coastal belt has been launched to reduce the stray dog population and to safeguard the region’s reputation as a tourist-friendly destination.
The programme is organised by Worldwide Veterinary Services, Mission Rabies, and the animal husbandry department.
A rise in dog bite cases along the coast in the recent months prompted local panchayats, shack owners, and the hotel industry to urge govt to take action.
“The programme is a long-term solution to mitigate dog bites by controlling the stray dog population,” said Dr Murugan Appupillai of Mission Rabies. He said the importance of public education, particularly encouraging pet owners to sterilise their female pets to prevent unwanted litters and subsequent abandonment.
The central setup has been established on the fisheries department property in Colva. Here, stray dogs from popular beaches including Cavelossim, Carmona, Varca, Benaulim, Colva, Betalbatim, and Majorda will be brought in for sterilisation and vaccination. They will be subsequently released back into their habitat. The programme targets the immunisation of 30 dogs per day.