PANAJI
The Department of Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Services (AHVS) on Thursday launched a house-to-house census for owned dogs in Goa, prompted by the increasing number of dog bite cases involving aggressive breeds. This exercise is an extended part of the 21st National Livestock Census conducted across India.
Addressing a press conference at the Secretariat, Minister for AHVS Nilkanth Halarnkar stated that the Goa government has taken a unique approach by including owned dogs in the census along with livestock data collection.
“The census will cover households, non-household enterprises, gaushalas, military areas, aviation zones, and other establishments across the State,” he said.
Halarnkar highlighted the rising number of dog bite cases, particularly involving certain ferocious breeds, which prompted the government to declare collecting breed-wise data on dogs owned. “Enumerators will separately list the number of dogs of various breeds owned by pet parents across the State,” he added.
The minister noted that this data would help determine the number of dogs of each breed in Goa, providing crucial inputs for strategic planning including possible restrictions on certain breeds.
Meanwhile, the enumerators have simultaneously begun the Livestock Census -- conducted pan-India once every five years -- to collect details about the number, breed, age, and gender of various species of animals.
“This data is required for proper planning and formulation of programs meant for improvement in the livestock sector in the country. A total of 16 species and 221 breeds of livestock including poultry birds will be enumerated which comprise cattle, buffaloes, camel, goat, pig, donkey, sheep, mule, horse, dogs, rabbit, yak, elephant, poni, mithun, poultry (fowls, duck etc). Stray cattle and stray dogs too will be covered,” the minister said, adding that the entire census information will be collected digitally.
The livestock census was started in 1919-1920 and it is one of the oldest census conducted in the country. So far 20 Livestock Censuses have been conducted in association with all State/UT Governments.
The State government has urged citizens to cooperate with the enumerators and animal husbandry officials during the survey.
“Citizens can check the identity of the enumerators and then share the detailed information about the livestock in their possession, to forward authentic data to the Central Government,” Halarnkar informed.
