Compulsory Licensing could check Goa's stray dog situation in Goa An compulsory annual dog license fee of as little as Rs.1000 per year could help reduce the number of strays and help tackle irresponsible dog breeding. Owners would face a cost of Rs.2.75 per day per dog – 25 paise more than the price of ‘Paav, Poi or Unde’ in order to provide huge improvements to dog welfare and dog control services.
This licensing scheme could deliver resources to improve dog welfare as well.The government should establish a dog health and welfare strategy underpinned and funded by a special dog license scheme and a special budget outlay for the Animal Husbandry dept. This would fund resources to tackle the issues, such as strays, injuries caused by dog bites, and the prevention of disease. Senior citizens/pensioners should be charged half the licensing fee. Microchips should be provided by govt. to be used to identify the dogs, with details entered on a state database, improving dog ownership and reducing numbers of unwanted dogs. A one time cost for the same should be levied from the dog owners. The dog license scheme would achieve two important goals. It would: raise money for dog welfare, increase the numbers of responsible dog owners by getting people to think before they get a dog. ( There can be ignorance and thoughtlessness on my part, about the existing schemes of Govt. of Goa. People who own pets can put forth their elaborate suggestions as well so that a consensus can be reached to solve the stray dog menace in Goa. If all pet owners reach a consensus, the govt. can be persuaded to implement a permanent program.) ------------------------------------------------------- Dr.Anjali Mohan Rao, Chairperson, Indology Goa GIRIVAR, Opp.Dhempe College, Miramar Beach, Post-Caranzalem, City-Panaji, Goa 403002 INDIA Phone/Fax: 0091-832-2462195 Cellphone: 0091-9765974786 website: http://www.indologygoa.in http://www.facebook.com/dr.anjali.m.rao "...the man who really counts in the world is the doer, not the mere critic, who actually does the work, even if roughly and imperfectly, not the man who only talks or writes about how it ought to be done..." * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Now available in Toronto, a few copies of *Into The Diaspora Wilderness* by Selma Carvalho. Contact Bosco D'Mello bo...@goanet.org (416) 803-7264 http://selmacarvalho.squarespace.com/