Panaji: State govt has decided to keep in abeyance its plan to ban four ferocious dog breeds in Goa — pit bull, rottweiler, cane corso and dogo argentino — after Centre’s move to ban ferocious dogs was challenged in court.Animal husbandry and veterinary services minister Nilkant Halarnkar said two cases have been filed in the Kerala and Delhi high courts, and the courts have stayed the move that allowed Centre to ban 23 ferocious dog breeds.“We have now decided to keep govt decision in abeyance till the outcome of the cases,” Halarnkar told TOI.Around 98% of the 170 respondents objected to state govt’s move to ban the four breeds. Govt had invited objections and suggestions before deciding on notifying the breeds as ferocious.“Only five people have suggested that four dog breeds should be declared ferocious whereas the rest of the people have objected to the govt move to declare identified dog breeds as ferocious,” a senior govt officer said.“They objected to declaring a particular breed as ferocious as all of them are of the opinion that all dogs can be aggressive,” the officer said.The officer said the directorate of animal husbandry had initially proposed declaring five breeds ferocious, but govt dropped malinois because it is used by security forces.State govt recently passed the Goa Animal Breeding and Domestication (Regulation and Compensation) Bill, 2025, to prohibit the domestication and breeding of ferocious animals and ban the import of such breeds. It was notified after assent.On the prohibition on domestication and breeding, the act says, “No person after the issuance of notification shall domesticate, breed, or cause to breed any animal of the breed or class specified in the said notification.”The act also says, “No person after the issuance of the notification shall bring or cause to bring into the state of Goa an animal of the breed or class as specified in such notification.”The owner of an animal declared ferocious will be solely responsible for its actions and liable if it injures any person or animal.“Whoever domesticates, breeds, or causes to breed any breed or class of animals in contravention of any of the provisions of this act or the rules made thereunder, will be punished with simple imprisonment for a period which may extend to three months but shall not be less than 15 days, a fine of Rs 50,000, and community service,” the act said.The owner of a notified ferocious animal must inform the authorities in writing about the animal’s existence and provide details as prescribed by the rules. The owner must also sterilise the animal or cause it to be sterilised. On application, a certificate will be issued confirming that the animal has been sterilised.
