Panaji: Designated feeding spots for stray dogs have been identified in parts of Panaji and other parts of Goa as part of an exercise involving local authorities, animal welfare groups and the District Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (DSPCA).Officials from the directorate of animal husbandry and veterinary services (AHVS) said the process is overseen by local monitoring committees comprising officials from civic bodies, the DSPCA and other stakeholders.“Some places have done it, while some places have not. Resident welfare associations, gated complexes, local panchayats and local bodies all have to come together to identify these spots across Goa,” an AHVS official said.Panaji Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) mapped feeding spots in parts of Panaji in coordination with the Corporation of the City of Panaji (CCP) and DSPCA officials.PAWS representative Sweta Sardesai said the exercise was carried out in the presence of regular dog feeders as well.“These feeding points are identified based on the natural territories occupied by stray dogs rather than by fixing arbitrary locations. We cannot expect a dog to walk 500 metres for feeding. Dogs are territorial, so, feeding spots are identified where the dogs already live and feed,” she said.She revealed that along the Dona Paula–Raj Bhavan Road up to the Campal area, around 30 feeding spots have been identified. An additional seven to eight feeding locations have also been identified in Altinho with the participation of local feeders.“Right now, the exercise has only involved identifying the locations and documenting them. We are still waiting for CCP to put up the feeding spot signages,” she said.AHVS director, Nitin Naik told TOI, “The designation of feeding sites is being discussed with the directorate of municipal administration and the directorate of panchayats (DoP). They have to identify the designated feeding sites. We have instructed all local bodies to identify designated feeding spots. The animal husbandry department will only be responsible for sterilisation and vaccination. Everything else, including identifying feeding sites and related implementation, has to be done by the local bodies.”
