The list of problems often surpasses solutions. And, negatives always seem heavier than the positives. But finding the silver lining in every situation is what makes us human. Because in the end, only in the arms of hope do we find growth.
And on the path to doing good and being better, Goa is prepping up for it’s first-ever dog breed census this year.
While the livestock census, which takes place every five years, records the number of stray and pet dogs, this year, the government of Goa has proposed an added new initiative that will focus on not just recording the number of dogs, but also documenting the breeds, age and gender, making it a more comprehensive survey.
The process will be carried out by the around 110 enumerators who will visit houses and collect data that will later be uploaded on the Central government website.
With the tense situation in Goa following the recent fatal Pitbull dog attack in Anjuna, whether the census will help or not is difficult to say.
“In the past, the Central government had banned 23 dog breeds after which they faced opposition from the Karnataka government that brought the ban to a halt. Following cases such as the one in Anjuna, if the government were to bring back the ban, we would have the data regarding how many of the breeds are in Goa, at hand. The census would help in that area,” says Dr Rajesh Kenny, Deputy Director, Directorate of Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Services Goa.
While the programme was supposed to start in September 2024, the process has been delayed and is awaiting the green signal from the Central government after all the ground work has been laid out the right way. The census will take approximately three months to complete.
Sharing her views on the situation, Honorary Secretary PAWS, Panjim, Shweta Sardesai, says, “Owners should know the characteristics of the breed they are raising. For example, Rottweilers are not companion dogs, they are aggressive by nature. If you don’t raise the dog the right way, it will naturally become aggressive because that’s in its nature. We cannot always blame the animal.”
The key lies in proper training. Owners need to understand their dogs' likes and dislikes and know how to manage them around unfamiliar people. If not kept in check, a dog may act as per its natural instincts, which could lead to aggressive behaviour.
Very often, finding someone to put the blame on seems like the easiest path to take. But it is only once the blame game stops that a solution can be found and peace can be restored to help the helpless, avoid tragedy and save the voiceless.