Panaji: At a high-level meeting convened by the tourism department on Thursday, a clear message emerged from stakeholders and animal welfare experts: Relocating community dogs is neither practical nor effective in addressing human-animal conflict.During the meeting, Mission Rabies Goa and People For Animals stressed that shifting dogs from one area to another merely transfers the problem, often worsening territorial conflicts and stress among animals. The only exception, they said, is the relocation of sick or injured dogs to shelters for treatment.The meeting focused on long-pending systemic solutions with recommendations of urgent implementation of dog registration by municipal bodies and panchayats — an initiative pending for nearly a decade.Experts argued that proper registration would help curb abandonment, improve accountability among pet owners, and reduce instances of conflict between humans and dogs.Garbage and food waste management also emerged as a critical factor. Participants highlighted that unregulated waste disposal sustains and increases stray dog populations. They called for stricter action by the local authorities to manage waste effectively.
Another major topic discussed was the need for regular sterilisation drives to stabilise and gradually reduce dog populations.“Teaching children and communities about dog bite prevention, responsible behaviour around animals, and waste disposal is essential for long-term change,” said director of education, Mission Rabies Goa, Dr Murugan Appupillai.
