The Government of Goa on September 12, 2024, notified regarding the Policy for street and pet dog caregiving in the form of guidelines.
The said Policy has the following clauses to ensure responsible pet ownership on the part of the dog owners which states as under:
(3) No owner/person in charge of any dog, shall: —
(a) Allow the pet dog to roam at large on any public street or public place without being harnessed and without being secured by a chain lead, if he knows that the dog is likely to annoy or intimidate any person.
(b) Allow any ferocious dog to be at large without being harnessed and without being secured by a chain lead.
(c) Encourage or urge any dog to attack, annoy or intimidate any person or
(d) Knowing or having reason to believe that any dog belonging to him or in his charge has been bitten by an animal suffering or reasonably suspected to be suffering from rabies, fail or neglect to give immediate information of this fact to the Mission Rabies hotline, or give information which is false.
It is imperative in the public interest that the dog/pet owner behave responsibly and ensure that his pet causes no harm/physical injury to any human beings or animals, whatsoever. Also, a Notarized Affidavit in the prescribed format to the effect that the owner of the pet animal will be responsible for any harm/physical injury caused by their pet animal to human beings and will be liable to bear the cost of medical treatment of the victim apart from suitable compensation.
[Notification No. 14-9-AH/Street & Pet dogs/2024-25/3632]
