Activities of People for Animals-Goa (PFA)

2003

1. ABC Sterilisation/Anti-Rabies Vaccination Programme:

Sterilisations continue to be the main programme of PFA. Presently PFA manages two shelters one at Vasco and the other at Ponda.

a) Ponda

The stray dog control programme in Ponda which had been stopped for over a year due to non-cooperation from the municipality, resumed in January 2003 when the Chief Officer of Ponda Municipal Council requested PFA to recommence the programme. The Council agreed to reimburse PFA for its services at the rate of Rs.7000/- p.m. The shelter continues to function at the temporary premises provided at the Government Veterinary Hospital, Curti-Ponda. The Government assigned Government Vet. Dr.U.V. Pednekar to conduct the sterilisation operations at the shelter.

As Government Vet was assigned once a week only and this was not enough to fulfil the sterilisation targets PFA has set for itself vis-a-vis its responsibilities to the Council, PFA had to look for private vets to augment the number of sterilisations performed each month. Two vets from Ponda have been assisting PFA in this regard regularly, Dr. Ramdas and Dr. Sathyavan.

Dr.Ramdas' work is entirely honorary and all the operations performed by him at Ponda are entirely free of cost. He has refused to accept any remuneration for his work. He attends the shelter every alternate Sunday. PFA is deeply grateful to Dr.Ramdas for his generosity and kindness.

Dr. Sathyavan receives a modest honorarium for his services. Dr.Sathyavan operates not only at the Ponda shelter but also at Vasco shelter whenever required.

That this work is done by both these vets on Sundays and holidays is all the more commendable. The Managing Committee wishes to place on record its appreciation and grateful thanks to Dr. Ramdas, Dr. Sathyavan and Dr. Pednekar for their contribution to animal welfare.

The Ponda shelter is ably managed by Vasudev Malik. Managing Committee member, Kamlakant Parab oversees the programme.

The Dy.Collector, Ponda has also approached PFA to conduct sterilisations in the entire taluka and has promised additional space for the purpose.

b) Vasco

It was with much relief and great happiness that PFA accepted the permanent premises assigned for animal shelter in Vasco by the Mormugao Municipal Council in January 2003. For 2 years earlier PFA had been conducting the stray dog control programme from tiny premises allotted to it in the heart of Vasco city. The number of strays sterilised each month could barely make a dent on the stray dog population of Vasco.

Managing Committee member, Milan Naik, tirelessly pursued the matter of permanent shelter premises with the municipality and her efforts bore fruit when she was finally able to secure the new premises on 27th January 2003 at Shantinagar, Vasco.

Although the area had to be cleared, levelled and thoroughly cleaned, since it was being used practically as a garbage dump by the residents of the locality, we are happy that we can finally conduct a full-fledged stray dog programme to realistically deal with the situation in Vasco.

Four workers are assigned to the stray dog programme, two of whom are municipal workers. Milan Naik very competently, diligently and devotedly oversees the programme in Vasco.

As stated earlier, the money that PFA receives as reimbursement of costs from the Panaji Corporation will be used for construction of shelter premises at Vasco.

On 3rd June 2003 the Mormugao Municipal Council signed a Memorandum of Agreement with PFA whereby MMC agreed to pay for 4 workers assigned to the animal shelter and give a monthly travel allowance to PFA and PFA agreed to cover 1,500 stray dogs per annum under the Animal Birth Control programme. The MOA is initially for a period of three years, renewable if both parties agree to the same. The signing of the Memorandum of Agreement is an achievement for PFA as it brings yet another municipal area under the ABC programme and thus committed to the welfare of animals.

The Vasco shelter is managed by Milan Naik.

2. Cattle Welfare

The Vasco Municipal Council has requested PFA to assist it in caring for stray cattle picked up from the streets and which are unclaimed by the owners. PFA had agreed to the same and has established a system whereby the unwanted cattle are rehabilitated among poor and deserving farmers in the surrounding villages who have cattle of their own and will therefore not find it a burden to look after one additional animal. Since July 2003 PFA has thus rehabilitated 63 stray cattle from Vasco town. PFA Secretary Lakshmi Gonsalves along with Adv. Manik Thaly handles the cattle rehabilitation programme.

See Cattle Report

3. Committee for the Purpose of Supervision and Control of Experimentation on Animals (CPCSEA)

PFA President Ms. Norma Alvares has been appointed as member of the CPCSEA in February 2003. The CPCSEA is a committee set up by the Govt. of India - Ministry of Environment and Forests. As the name itself suggests the purpose of the Committee is to oversee the use of animals for experimentation purpose and to ensure that minimal cruelty is permitted where such experimentation is found to be necessary.
1998

1. Bull Fights

The PFA filed a public interest litigation in the High Court of Bombay, Panaji Bench in October 1997 for stopping of bull fights in the State of Goa. An interim stay was immediately granted by the High Court and judgment declaring bull fight illegal in terms of Prevention of Cruelty to Animal Act was passed on 24th December 1997. The Bull Owners' Association appealed the order in the Supreme Court. However, the appeal was rejected in January 1998.

2. Pet Pals Column

The Navhind Times has offered PFA a weekly column called Pet Pals for re-homing strays and other unwanted animals. The Pet Pals column appeared every week on Saturdays. Efforts are made to find homes for the abandoned pups and kittens which are regularly left at the gate of the shelter in the early hours of the morning. Many of the pups have distemper as a result of which they die soon after. Similarly, kittens are abandoned when they are too young to survive on their own. But the healthy pups and kittens are given in adoption to those who are willing to give a stray a home. A total number of 65 dogs/pups and 27 cats/kittens have been re-homed during the year.

3. ABC Sterilisation / Anti-rabies Vaccination Programme

The programme commenced on a small scale in Panjim and the neighbouring villages. A concerted effort to sterilise and immunise strays will only be possible once we have our own facilities for looking after the animals. We have however, been conducting sterilisation programme at the private residences of persons who are agreeable to looking after a few strays during recuperation.

4. Animal Rescue Operations

From time to time PFA members are telephoned giving information of injured animals lying on the road which have been hit by vehicles. The animals generally injured thus, are cattle. We have been going to the rescue of these animals wherever possible. Assistance from the government vet is taken to either treat the animal or put to sleep in extreme cases. We have also received such telephone calls to rescue crocodiles, snakes, turtles and different species of birds.

5. Fund Raising Programmes

a. "Off Pitch" Evening with Cricketers: The PFA constructed a major fund raising event which was an evening with the cricketers of the Indian and Pakistani teams visiting Goa on 26th December '97. A total amount of Rs.1,25,000 was raised through this event.

b. Donation boxes in hotels: PFA has placed donation boxes in several five star hotels in Goa to raise money from tourists visiting the state who would like to support our cause. The amount raised so far is Rs.6,333.

6. Inspection of Institutes using animals for experiments

Two institutions were visited by PFA members namely Wallace Pharmaceuticals/ Cosme Mathias Menezes and Hindustan Ciba Geigy.

2002

I. ABC Sterilisation/Anti-Rabies Vaccination Programme:

Sterilisations were regularly done throughout the year at the 2 Municipal shelters managed by PFA viz. Panaji, and Vasco.

Over 2000 stray dogs were covered during this year under the ABC programme with 1781 sterilised and 348 euthanised.

a) Panaji

The shelter at St.Inez, Panaji was PFA's first animal shelter which commenced in 1999, completed 3 years of efficient running in October 2002. In November, the Municipal Council expressed its intention of conducting the sterilisation programme henceforth with its own resources, considering that it now had well-trained staff, a regular system of Government vets attending the shelter and the crisis situation of numerous stray dogs roaming the streets had abated as a result of the intensive sterilisation programme done by PFA during the period 1999-2002. The Council was also shortly due to be reconstituted as a Corporation and would have wider powers and greater resources.

The Council's decision was viewed by PFA as a step in the right direction, since controlling the stray dog population is essentially a function of the municipality. On 1/2/2003 the Council took over the management of the shelter at St.Inez. It became the first municipal authority in Goa to take full responsibility for the stray dog control programme, adopting as its strategy the ABC programme, which is advocated by the Animal Welfare Board of India and the Animal Welfare Division of the Ministry of Environment & Forests.

While thanking PFA for its assistance, the Chief Officer wrote as follows:

"This Council would like to place on record the deep appreciation it has to the work undertaken by the P.F.A. in Panjim. The work done by the P.F.A. in Panjim has been commendable by any standards. The dedication and effort put forth by your organisation to run the stray dogs sterilisation programme has actually begun to bear fruit and has put Panjim Municipal Council high above most other areas in respect of sterilisation. Kindly accept our sincere appreciation and gratitude for the assistance and work done by your organisation for Panjim Municipal Council and the city as well."

The Council also agreed to reimburse the costs incurred by PFA to construct the animal shelter at Panaji. The shelter had been constructed with funds obtained from the Central Government. The money that is reimbursed will be used to set up the animal shelter in Vasco, where land has recently been allocated to PFA by the Mormugao municipality for conducting the stray dog control programme.

b) Vasco

PFA continues to function for the third year from the temporary premises assigned to it in mid - 2000. However finally it appears that land for permanent shelter will shortly be given to PFA. Land has already been identified and merely the modalities for assigning the same to PFA remain to be completed.

Total number of sterilizations in 2002 : 2035

II. Cattle Rescue:

Providing care to cattle injured in road accidents or impounded by the municipality for straying on the roads or rescued from illegal slaughter has also been part of PFA's activities. Manik Thaly and his team of workers have been attending to all such calls conveyed to them either by the authorities or even by ordinary citizens. PFA has a large ambulance van which is suitable for transporting cattle. However, it is badly in need of repairs.

Although grant of only Rs.12,500/- was received by PFA from the AWBI for cattle relief work, Thaly and his team have never refused to attend to calls. They have personally raised donations in cash and kind to feed these animals. Cases were eventually registered by the authorities against those who intended to illegally slaughter the animals. The cases are pending.

Till date, i.e. over the past 3 years, more than 1000 animals have been impounded and brought to the cattle pound at St.Inez, Panaji. It has been noticed that very few animals have been claimed by their respective owners after paying the penalties. Consequently the authorities decided to auction the rest. PFA requested the government not to auction the animals and we agreed to make alternative arrangements for them. Subsequently more than 300 cattle were given shelter by Mr. Purohit, who runs the only Gowshala in the state of Goa which is located at Usgaon, Ponda. The remaining cattle were given to poor farmers in Konkan region. The transport costs were borne by us. During their stay at the Panjim shelter we look after their feed, purchasing stacks of hay for the purpose. We provide the animals with food, water, medicines at our cost and then distribute the cattle free of cost to the poor and needy farmers after verifying their bonafides.

During the past three years on three occasions about 100 animals cows, calves and bulls) were rescued from 3 illegal slaughter houses. These animals were also sheltered in the cattle pound at St.Inez, Panaji. Cases were filed against those who were involved in the illegal slaughter. As the animals were required to be retained in situ during the proceedings we had to look after their food and medicines for almost 2 months. These animals were also subsequently distributed among the poor and needy farmers free of cost. Heavy expenditure was incurred on the whole operation with no monetary help from government or any business houses.

We are also rescuing cattle injured in road accidents. These animals are unable to move and their owners prefer to leave them where they are. People from the area telephone us to take away the cattle. We arrange for veterinary assistance and treatment of the animals thereafter. Not many of such animals survive as they are often seriously injured, hence unable to move and by the time we have been contacted for assistance considerable period has elapsed. We however do our best to give the animal immediate relief from pain. As we receive such calls from all parts of Goa the costs incurred for each case is quite high considering that we have to travel to the place where the injured animal is lying and arrange for large number of workers to lift the animals as they are incapable of movement on their own. Infrastructure:
For full details of cattle welfare programme see Chapter on Cattle Welfare

For full details of ABC Sterilisation and Anti-rabies programme see Chapter on Sterilisations

2001

I. ABC Sterilisation / Anti-rabies Vaccination Programme:

a) Panaji:

Sterilisations were regularly done throughout the year at the Panaji shelter. In January 2002 the Government vet Dr.Pednekar was assigned to PFA for the entire week (earlier it was thrice a week only) enabling PFA to increase the sterilisation figures to almost 200 per month. PFA has exceeded the sterilisation targets set by the municipal authorities.

That the sterilisation programme was entirely to the satisfaction of the municipal council is seen from their affidavit filed in the High Court wherein it has stated that it received regular reports from PFA on ABC programme and that the number of complaints has gone down drastically.

Besides sterilisation in the municipal areas, the PFA also under took sterilisation programmes for some village Panchayats and for institutions on request. Among these were Goa Medical College, INS Mandovi, Sesa Iron Plant and panchayats of Merces, Bambolim, Old Goa, St.Cruz, Penha da Franca, Porvorim and also Majorda.

b) Vasco:

The Vasco shelter continues to be in temporary premises. The Municipal Council has approved land for animal shelter but the procedures are still underway. It is hoped that during the coming year, this shelter will materialise.

c) Ponda:

PFA inaugurated a new shelter at Ponda on 26.4.2002. This shelter was located in the premises of the Animal Husbandry Department at Curti. 2 staff were assigned to reside permanently at Ponda. Ponda Municipal Council also deputed 2 staff to the project. However, rather unfortunately, the municipal staff assigned to the project were unwilling workers and after running the programme for 5 months it was decided to shut the shelter in September seeing that the Municipal Council was giving no cooperation and making no effort to resolve PFA's difficulties.

Total number of sterilizations in 2001 : 1831

II. Cattle Rescue:

PFA also commenced a regular cattle welfare programme wherein stray cattle impounded by the municipal council were looked after by PFA members at Panjim shelter. PFA members donated large amount of feed and fodder for the cattle. Injured animals were attended to by the vet.

PFA also pursued the matter of illegal slaughter of cattle. Cases were booked against the parties who were illegally slaughtering young cattle. Because of this action, such activities were brought to a halt. The Director of the Animal Husbandry has recorded that due to the action taken by PFA, the illegal slaughter of cattle in the State has been reduced. The 39 cattle which were rescued from slaughter were subsequently taken to the Dwarkapuri Goseva Ashram at Ponda.

As no funds were available for such work, it is the contributions of some of the members of PFA notably, Adv. Manik Thaly and the Secretary of PFA, Ms.Kazi who must be commended for this work. PFA has made an application to the Animal Welfare Board of India for financial assistance for such cattle rescue work for the forthcoming year.

2000

1. ABC Sterilisation / Anti-rabies Vaccination Programme

a) Panaji:

The Panaji shelter has been functioning very smoothly with the 5 staff deputed by the Municipality. Operations are done by Dr. U.V. Pednekar who is the Govt. vet deputed to PFA's shelter. PFA has also employed its own staff of 2 boys from Sattari taluka to assist with dog catching and shelter maintenance.

PFA has sterilized stray dogs in the villages surrounding Panaji at Panaji shelter. The villages covered were Dona Paula, Santa Cruz, Merces, Ribandar, Bambolim and Verem. Once the shelters are set up at Vasco and Ponda, the villages surrounding these towns will also be covered under the sterilisation programme.

b) Vasco:

In August 2000, PFA received a request from the Chief Officer, Mormugao Municipal Council to commence sterilisations at Vasco immediately. A small shed in the heart of the city, next to a garage dump and near the Animal Husbandry department was shown to PFA as temporary premises for conducting sterilisations. Although the premises were very small and could barely accommodate a dozen cages, PFA agreed to commence work since this was to be a purely temporary arrangement.

c) PFA special sterilisation schemes for institutions

PFA has also worked out special sterilisation schemes for institutions who find they have too many dogs on their premises. These institutions have also reimbursed the expenses to PFA. Sterilisations have been done at:
- Goa Medical College, Bambolim
- INS Mandovi
- Sesa Goa Pig Iron Plant, Amona.

d) Anti-rabies camps

Anti-rabies camps have also been held in several Panchayats which have requested for the same: eg. Dona Paula, Santa Cruz, Merces, Ribandar, Verem and Majorda.

Total number of sterilizations during 2000 : 1302

2. Construction of animal shelter:

Panaji: PFA has completed the construction of the shelter premises in terms of the grant given to it by the Central Government. Extension of shelter house has been constructed and a total of 50 new cages added. We now have a total of approx.100 cages for the sterilisation programme.

The Panaji shelter comprises :
a) Office building with 4 rooms (1 operation theatre, 1 recovery room, 1 office and 1 staff rest room).
b) 6 sheds for housing the dog cages.
c) Pucca dog shelter with 12 compartments for housing dogs.
d) Store-room
e) Kitchen-cum-pantry
f) Garage.

Ponda: The Goa Government has given a plot of land to PFA at Curti Ponda on 3-year lease in July 2000 for setting up Animal Shelter. PFA has applied to the Central govt. for funds for construction of animal shelter.

3. Rescue Operations:

PFA is increasingly being called upon to rescue animals who have fallen into wells or have been injured in road accidents.

Usually the road accident cases involve cattle. The animals have been picked up by PFA and after treatment, if no owners claim them, they are sent to the Goshala at Ponda. The Fire brigade has often assisted PFA in the rescue operations. Adv. Manik Thaly, a PFA member, regularly provides food, medicines and monetary assistance too, whenever required in the rescue of stray cows.

PFA has also filed complaints with the police whenever cases of cruelty to stray animals has come to its notice. It has also assisted the police in the investigation and prosecution of these complaints.

4. Training Courses:

PFA has collaborated with Goa SPCA to conduct a training course for the police and govt. officials on the laws in force regarding cruelty to animals. The course was well attended by almost 80 persons. Several persons have expressed that the course has helped them to take action whenever they have come across cases of cruelty to animals. The police are now registering such cases.

1999

1. Setting up animal shelter at Panaji

As a consequence of a writ petition filed by PFA in the High Court at Goa the Panjim Municipal Council in cooperation with PFA set up Animal Shelter at St. Inez, Panaji. The place was generally overrun by weeds and also had some illegal hutments. PMC also undertook the filling up of the swampy area in the shelter with mud. PFA sought the assistance of the Conservator of Forest for trees and plants to be planted at the shelter. The CF was most cooperative and several saplings were planted at the shelter during the monsoons.

The Shelter had no facilities except a dilapidated old building when the land was earmarked for animal welfare activities. Hence soon after the monsoons PFA set about constructing In-house dispensary and dog shelters to house the animals. Grant-in-aid was obtained from the Central Govt. Ministry for Social Justice for the renovations and new constructions. The months of August and September were spent repairing the 4 room existing structure on an urgent and immediate basis. The entire structure has been given a new flooring. The operating room is tiled and also fitted with a sink. The other rooms are plastered. A new toilet is constructed. A portion of the area outside the building is also cemented.

The PMC has also constructed a large shed for the animals. It has been enclosed on all sides by PFA and has several cubicles for the dogs. In another enclosure also built by the PMC, several dog cages are housed. A small kitchen has been constructed nearby for cooking food for animals. Two more sheds are being constructed and will be ready by end May 2000. A puppy enclosure has also been built. Four vermicompost pits are constructed to take care of the wastes. The Shelter now has telephone facility as well as electricity and water connections.

Panjim Municipal Council has provided the shelter with 4 municipal workers who work full-time at the Shelter. Besides dog-catching they have also been trained in caring for the animals during post operative treatment. Two of the workers are trained to drive the PFA van. Panjim Municipal Council has also provided one lady assistant who attends to office administration, telephone calls, etc. PFA has employed a young lady for assisting the vets during sterilisation operations and handling post operative treatment.

2. Sterilisation and Immunisation Programme for strays

Once the strays dogs are brought to the shelter, dogs which have wounds and other afflictions are medically treated. Dogs which cannot be rehabilitated are euthanised in a painless manner. Keyhole surgery is performed on the strays to sterilise/castrate. During the operation the animal is also ear clipped. Register of all dogs sterilised is maintained together with medical details as are relevant. The dog is also dewormed and vaccinated against rabies. Before releasing the animal, it is fitted with a collar.

Dogs are detained at the shelter for an average period of 7 days after which they are released in the same areas from which they are picked up. To avoid any mix up in returning the animals to the area they inhabit, only dogs from the same area are picked up during a round and two areas are never covered at the same time. The animals are fed nourishing diet during the period they are at the shelter. Govt. vet visits the shelter on alternate days to examine the animals and approve their release pattern.

PFA has obtained the services of several vets during the past one year. Till August '99 PFA worked the programme in cooperation with vets from another NGO namely International Animal Rescue. In September '99 PFA recruited the services of Dr.Shankar Virkee, Veterinary Surgeon from Bombay who was the full-time in house resident doctor at the Shelter for three months.

Since October 1999, Govt.Animal Husbandry Dept. deputed the services of a vet, twice a week, to the Shelter. Dr. Salvador Vaz performed operations at the shelter from October to December '99. Dr. Pednekar has been deputed to the shelter since January 2000.

PFA has also been using the services of Dr. Soniya Chavan, Medical Surgeon from Bombay for mass sterilisation camps. Such camps are held once a month at which time minimum 50-60 dogs are sterilised over a 2-3 days period. On these weekend camps vets from all over Goa are invited to assist in the operations and also learn the techniques of quick surgery from Dr.Soniya. In November and December '99 we held total of 3 sterilisation camps during which over 200 dogs have been sterilised.

Total number of sterilizations during 1999 : 327

3. Collaboration with Panaji Citizens / Institutions

The shelter is very much sustained by the voluntary work put in by members of the PFA and also the donations received in cash and kind almost every day. Some of the medical equipment has been donated by Goa Medical College and also by private doctors. A second hand refrigerator which was urgently required was also donated. Old newspapers are regularly provided by several persons and institutions. Regular supply of meat trimmings is received from two hotels in the city. PMC has provided some of the office furniture. The Goa Govt.Animal Husbandry Dept gave an operating table for use at the Shelter. DPC Motors donated a stretcher for injured animals as per design specifications given by PFA. The newspapers give us free space from time to time for carrying our press releases informing the public of sterilisation camps or other services provided by us. Several hotels in Panaji keep PFA donation boxes at their reception desks.

Miscellaneous Animal Welfare Activities

PFA has continued its other animal welfare work, albeit in an informal fashion. From time to time, members receive telephone calls about injured animals, usually cattle, lying on the road after being hit by vehicles. Wherever possible, the animals are rescued. If they are cows or bulls, they are taken to the Goseva Ashram run by Mr. Purohit at Usgao. But often the hapless animal has to be put down. Sometimes there are calls regarding animals which have fallen in wells. The fire brigade has assisted PFA in such rescue operations. Telephone calls have also been received to rescue crocodiles, snakes, turtles and different species of birds. At such times we contact the forest department or some of the newly formed wildlife groups for assistance.

PFA was invited by the Panchayat of Santacruz to attend a meeting at Chimbel on 27th September called to discuss the problems of strays in the village. It was agreed at the meeting to have a camp for injecting anti rabies vaccine for the strays. PFA participated in the programme.

Several persons are leaving pups at the gate of the shelter in the early hours of the morning. Also several boxes containing kittens are found at the entrance of the shelter. Many of the pups are found having distemper as a result of which they die soon after. Similarly, kittens are abandoned when they are to young to survive on their own. However, we receive visits from people for adopting pups and we have found homes for several.

4. PFA Newsletter

In the last quarter of 1999, PFA published a newsletter, which was sent to all PFA members and also to government officials, educational institutions, NGOs and other concerned citizens, to keep the public informed of its activities and to invite them to share its concerns. The newsletter was widely appreciated and the organisation has received sponsors for future editions.