Walking dog in Goa? Mouth guard, leash soon to be must

Panaji: Minister for animal husbandry and veterinary services (AHVS) Nilkanth Harlankar has proposed stringent new regulations for pet dog owners in Goa which he said would be notified this week. The new rules have been proposed in the wake of the incident at Anjuna, where a seven-year-old boy was fatally mauled 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,” Harlankar told TOI.
The minister has mandated that all pet dog owners must now keep their dogs on a leash and use a mouth guard when taking them out in public. Additionally, pet owners will be required to register their dogs and sign an affidavit accepting full responsibility for their pets’ 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.
In the aftermath of the Anjuna incident, PETA India wrote to the department of animal husbandry and veterinary services in Goa and urged govt to implement a policy that bans the breeding, sale, or keeping of aggressive dog breeds.