Mouth Guard and Leash Mandatory for Dogs Walking in Goa

Panaji: Nilkanth Harlankar, the minister for animal husbandry and veterinary services (AHVS), has proposed stringent new regulations for pet dog owners in Goa. The new rules have been proposed considering a dog-attack incident at Anjuna, where a seven-year-old boy was mauled fatally by a pitbull while visiting a neighbour. 

“The file is already cleared and sent for publication on the Official Gazette. The new regulations will be notified this week. We have rules and guidelines for stray dogs but there is no policy for pet dogs,” said Harlankar. 

According to the new mandates, all dog owners must keep their dogs on a leash and use a mouth guard or muzzle when out and about in public. Further, pet owners must register their dogs and sign an affidavit stating they take full responsibility for their pet’s behaviour. 

“We do not want another Anjuna incident,” Harlankar said. “To ensure the safety of the public, we are enforcing these measures. A strong, secure chain leash and a face shield must be used when the dog is taken outside the owner’s private property. If a dog leaves the compound and causes harm, the owner will be held fully accountable,” he said. 

He also warned pet dog owners against the potential spread of the rabies virus. “In the event of any rabies infection, the owner is obligated to notify the authorities immediately. There should not be any harm to any person or loss of another animal because of the pet dog,” he said

PETA India also wrote to the department of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Services in Goa, urging the government to implement a policy that bans the breeding, sale, or keeping of aggressive dog breeds. Such provisions were planned in other parts of the country after similar instances too; however, no formal breed ban is in place at the moment.