CALANGUTE: Around 500
stray dogs
have been sterilised in
Calangute
over the last two months following a
drive
by the
Calangute panchayat
since October 5.
The government, through the animal husbandry department, sanctioned Rs28lakh to the panchayat and the sterilisation was being implemented by Calangute-based
NGO
, Noah’s Ark.
Agostinho Proenca, head of the NGO told TOI that the sterilisation will go for five months targeting 250 dogs every month.
The drive aims to sterilise all dogs in the tourist belt so that their numbers reduce over the next few years, a panchayat member said.
The strays are considered a problem as they can turn aggressive and attack people at times.
The problem became acute during the recent lockdown when the strays, who survive on food provided by beach shacks, restaurants and the likes, were left with no food. Many cases of
dog
bites were reported during that period.
Minister for ports and Calangute MLA
Michael Lobo
said similar drives will also be held in
Candolim
and
Arpora-Nagoa
which are part of the Calangute constituency.