Goa’s crackdown on ferocious dog breeds
The Goa government will reportedly introduce a bill in the upcoming monsoon session of the assembly that will ban ferocious dog breeds Pitbull and Rottweiler in the state. It is learnt that the proposed bill, to be called ‘The Animal Breeding and Domestication Bill, 2025’, will have a provision which will ban the import, sale and breeding of ferocious dog breeds which will start with a ban on Pitbulls and Rottweilers. This is a step in the right direction with the focus on public safety as well as animal welfare. There have been several instances of ferocious dogs allegedly left unleashed attacking humans. More recently a 40-year-old man was attacked by a Rottweiler in Assagao. In August last year a seven-year-old boy died after being attacked by a pet Pitbull. Be that as it may, the Bill only proposes to ban the import, sale and breeding of ferocious dog breeds. What about dog owners who already possess Pitbulls and Rottweilers as pets? Obviously there needs to be some guidelines in place on how to handle these ferocious dogs which are already kept as pets. The owners of ferocious dog breeds need to seek professional help from a veterinarian or certified dog behaviorist for behavior modification. The approach in handling aggression in dogs will vary depending on the individual dog’s personality, breed, and what triggers their aggression. The best thing to do in order to prevent dog attacks is to keep them leashed while taking them out and when there are visitors in the house. Ferocious dogs should at no time be let loose in the open wherever there are people.
Adelmo Fernandes, Vasco
Panaji market fallout
The old fish market building of Panaji used to cater to the needs of every Goan (irrespective of caste, creed and religion) as one would get not just fish, chicken and mutton but the best of quality beef under one single roof inside the market building. Unfortunately, that is not the case anymore as the entire old Panaji fish market building has been demolished a year back by the CCP (citing a so-called ‘report’ from the Goa Engineering College’s civil engineering department which had deemed the building unsafe for human occupation) and a temporary ugly shed-like structure has been constructed as a new fish market. Well, today one can see only the fish vendors sitting in the new fish market or shed and doing their business as usual. Unfortunately, the beef vendors (who were evicted during the above demolition and given assurances after assurances with regards to their rehabilitation) are still seen missing and no one really knows why their shops have been shifted far away from this important market area and under whose instructions. Now, it is learnt that some poultry, mutton and beef vendors from the Panaji market are to be accommodated adjacent to the new fish market this week. I hope that the above vendors will finally be allowed to make a comeback near the same fish market area of Panaji at the very earliest.
Jerry Fernandes, Saligao
Mopa’s gutka blot
It is reported that a large dynamic LED screen featuring ads for a paan masala has been installed at Mopa International Airport. How was GMR, the owner and operator even allowed to advertise a banned substance, this is demeaning to the memory and stature of Manohar Parrikar bab after whom the airport is named. Cancer causing gutka has made rapid inroads in our state, courtesy migrant labourers and unscrupulous traders, much to the detriment of Goan youngsters. What would international tourists think of a state which features cheap, tasteless surrogate advertising for gutka at its port of entry, we have a million better things to offer? The government should immediately order removal of this ad, not everything can be justified in terms of commercial returns.
Rekha Sarin Trehan, Benaulim
Warrior or lawbreaker
It is shameful and shocking to learn that an MLA of Maharashtra ruling alliance had slapped and punched an employee at the MLA Hostel Canteen, for serving stale food. Ironically, when the MLA was questioned as to why he hit the canteen staff, his reply “I am an MLA and a warrior, I lost control after my complaints remained unheard, despite several complaints, if nobody pays attention, what should I do. Should I die, I have no regret” is an irresponsible statement. If an elected member is losing control over a petty matter, can we the voters too punch and hit the MLAs and MPs, when they fail to keep up their poll promises, supply of inferior quality items in ration shops, non-repair of battered roads, poor drainage system, construction of inferior bridges, metro lines, etc. etc.? It is time for the voters to wake up and teach a lesson or two to all the political leaders by questioning their failures to keep up their poll promises and non- supply of palatable ration items, etc.
N Mahadevan, Chennai