Team Goemkarponn
PANAJI: The Shack Owners’ Association of Goa has appealed to the State government to promptly implement the Supreme Court’s directives concerning stray dogs in public places, saying the issue has become increasingly important for the safety of both tourists and locals.
Speaking on behalf of the association, president Cruz Cardozo said the Supreme Court has issued multiple orders on the matter since August 2025, and there is now an urgent need for the government to translate those directions into action. He also called for an awareness drive to educate the public and local bodies about the court’s rulings.
Cardozo said incidents involving stray dogs attacking visitors on Goa’s beaches have highlighted the need for effective measures in locations that attract large numbers of people, including tourist destinations, educational institutions, religious sites and recreational areas.
He noted that in its judgment delivered on May 19, the Supreme Court declined to entertain pleas filed by several animal welfare organisations seeking a review or suspension of its earlier directions, thereby allowing those orders to remain in force.
According to Cardozo, the court has clarified that stray dogs removed from public spaces cannot be released back into the same areas under the provisions of the Animal Birth Control Rules, 2023. He added that organisations or student groups wishing to feed or maintain stray dogs within educational campuses must first accept legal responsibility for any attacks by submitting an affidavit, failing which such activities cannot continue.
Emphasising the importance of public safety, Cardozo said the Supreme Court has observed that authorities cannot delay enforcement of its directions by citing administrative or logistical challenges where the protection of human life is involved. He urged the Goa government to ensure that the court’s orders are implemented without further delay.
