Daijiworld Media Network - Panaji

Panaji, Jan 7: In a significant move to strengthen animal welfare enforcement while addressing public health and safety concerns, the Goa State Animal Welfare Board has decided to implement a series of stringent regulatory measures across the State.

The decisions were taken at a high-level meeting chaired by Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant, attended by Social Welfare Minister Subhash Phaldessai and Animal Husbandry Minister Nilkanth Halarnkar.

Marking a shift towards stronger ground-level enforcement, the Board approved the deployment of police personnel to assist authorities in the lawful and humane impounding of cattle, particularly in cases involving stray animals and illegal grazing.

In a key public health initiative, the Board also resolved to issue notifications making sterilisation and vaccination of domestic dogs mandatory, aimed at controlling the stray dog population and preventing the spread of zoonotic diseases.

To ensure wider outreach, especially in rural and remote areas, the State will introduce Mobile Sterilisation Units, enabling animal welfare services to reach beyond urban centres.

Another major decision taken was to make registration of meat traders with the Animal Husbandry Department compulsory, bringing the sector under a regulated and traceable framework to ensure adherence to animal welfare norms.

Chief Minister Dr Sawant said the initiatives reflect the government’s balanced approach towards animal welfare, public health and regulatory accountability, adding that the Board remains committed to strengthening institutional mechanisms to ensure humane treatment of animals while maintaining law and order across Goa.