After being rabies-free state, Goa now plans to ban aggressive breeds of dogs

As Goa has been declared a rabies-free state Chief Minister Pramod Sawant has not said that the government was considering banning certain aggressive breeds of dogs that posed a danger to humans and also they might not be vaccinated.

Goa to ban aggressive breeds of dogs: CM Parmod Sawant

The chief minister said, “Certain breeds need to be banned in the state because they are aggressive and attack especially humans.”

This statement came when Sawant was addressing a gathering on the occasion of World Rabies Day, organized by an NGO – Mission Rabies, through whose efforts Goa has become a rabies-free state. He then highlighted the threat Goa’s rabies-controlled status faced from dogs brought from outside the state.

Inaugurated the #RabiesMuktGoa – Static Point Vaccination Campaign, and the Dog micro chipping project on the occasion of #WorldRabiesDay.

I am happy to note that Goa is the 1st 'Rabies Controlled Area' in the country, where the human Rabies has been stopped. I congratulate… pic.twitter.com/2FGn4upgC9

— Dr. Pramod Sawant (@DrPramodPSawant) September 29, 2023

“Goa is a rabies-controlled state. Some bring dogs from other states out of their passion, but they are not vaccinating them,” Sawant said.

Sawant cites recent dog attack incident

Citing some recent incidents, he said that a Rottweiler breed dog jumped over the gate of a house and attacked two children, leaving one seriously injured.

Notably, Mission Rabies was launched in 2013 in Goa after the state was identified as an ideal location to set the standard for rabies eradication across India.

On 17 May 2021, Goa’s director of animal husbandry Dr Agostinho Mesquita issued a notification in the official gazette declaring Goa as a ‘rabies-controlled state.’

After joining hands with Mission Rabies, the Goa government began its funding to the cause, which embarked on a mission to vaccinate 70 per cent of the state’s dog population – both owned and stray dogs in the state.

“We are also starting a programme for sterilisation to keep control of the population of dogs. If the population grows too much, then we face the most trouble. On average, there are one to two accidents a day with major injuries,” Sawant said.