Target: Nilkanth Halarnkar, Minister for Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Services, Government of Goa, Panaji, India
Goal: Add strict due-process safeguards, humane exemptions, and transparent oversight before any breed is declared “ferocious,” with penalties for any officials or facilities that carry out unlawful seizures or cruel handling.
A newly assented law empowers authorities to declare “any breed or class of animals” ferocious, then ban domestication, breeding, and import. Once a declaration issues, owners must inform the department within 30 days and complete sterilization within 60 days, facing fines, possible jail, and community service for non-compliance. Without tight guardrails, sweeping powers like these can spark panic surrenders, rushed sterilizations, and mass confiscations that overwhelm shelters and heighten animal suffering.
Experience elsewhere suggests that vague “ferocious” labels can be applied unevenly, ensnaring well-kept pets and service animals alongside genuinely dangerous cases. Sudden mandates may push owners to hide animals, delay veterinary care, or abandon them. Shelters and clinics then struggle with spikes in intake, which can translate into overcrowding, disease risk, and stress for animals already in care. Accountability must extend to any facility that handles animals cruelly during enforcement.
Humane policy needs evidence and transparency. Before any breed or class is designated, an independent veterinary-behavioral panel should review data on bite incidence, context, and management outcomes. Clear owner due process, medical exemptions, phased compliance, and publicly posted reasons for any designation should be mandatory. Enforcement must prioritize education, behavior-based assessments, and subsidized training—not broad labels. This petition calls for codified safeguards, humane implementation, and penalties for any unlawful or cruel enforcement actions.
PETITION LETTER:
Minister Halarnkar,
The newly assented framework allows authorities to declare “any breed or class of animals” ferocious, triggering bans and fast compliance deadlines for owners under threat of penalties. Without explicit, evidence-based guardrails, such powers can sweep in safe, well-managed animals and create unintended harm through panic surrenders, rushed procedures, and crowded shelters.
We respectfully urge immediate rules and amendments that require an independent veterinary and behavioral review with published data before any designation proceeds. Findings should be published and easily verified. Set clear evidence based criteria centered on behavior not looks. Criteria should reference incident data and expert assessment.
Guarantee due process for owners with fair notice. Allow medical exemptions where vets certify risk. Use phased timelines that respect welfare and capacity. Prioritize humane interventions such as training, muzzling plans and secure housing. Such steps reduce risk without sweeping labels.
Mandate public reporting on designations and enforcement actions and animal outcomes. Publish data regularly for scrutiny by residents and researchers. Impose penalties on officials and facilities that conduct unlawful seizures or cruel handling during enforcement. This deterrent encourages careful, compassionate practice.
These steps will protect communities while preventing avoidable animal suffering and preserving trust in public institutions. Humane, targeted policy—grounded in evidence and transparency—works better than broad labels that can endanger both animals and people.
Sincerely,
[Your Name Here]
Photo Credit: stiv xyz
