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An injured dog awaiting treatment

A female dog awaiting sterilisation

Our Work

Many stray dogs and cats originate from discarded pets (usually females) who then continue to breed on the streets.  The rest are just descendents of stray / feral animals.

Many of these animals will never know what it is like to have the comfort and love of a family and home.  These pups and kittens often die slow and agonising deaths, through malnutrition, disease, or injuries sustained from other animals or being hit by vehicles on the roads.

Some lucky ones get a new life through being adopted via one of our “puppy camps” which are run most Sundays after church services in selected locations across South Goa.  These animals are cleaned, wormed and vaccinated, and the new owners are given a voucher for sterilisation when their new pet reaches the appropriate age.  GAWT volunteers also foster animals on a temporary or permanent basis wherever necessary and possible.

GAWT has a number of programmes and initiatives in place to reduce the number of unwanted animals and to help find them a loving home. These include:-

            Sterilisation of stray animals

            Private sterilisation for pet animals

      Treatment of sick, injured & abandoned dogs & cruelty cases

            Anti-rabies vaccination camps for pets & adoptions

We travel all over South Goa collecting stray dogs and cats that are in need of our help from the beaches and streets.  Apart from regular visits to various locations, we can also respond to specific requests from members of the public or friends and GAWT volunteers regarding animals in distress.  You can call the Shelter or visit the Charity Shop in Colva. 

Private donations and the Indian Government jointly funded our GAWT vans, which we use to collect and return animals.

We could not survive without these vehicles; but they cost us money to run!  In addition to fuel and maintenance, we have to fund drivers, the dog-catchers and their equipment (leads, collars & nets etc.), plus medicines, and so on.

If you’re in the area, keep an eye out for the vans; do come talk to us and watch us at work!

Please help us anyway you can.  Feel free to contact us for more information about any aspect of our work.

Click here for information about the number of animals treated by GAWT.

Dog-catchers placing a dog in a sack for transport to the GAWT van

Female dog under anaesthetic at start of a sterilisation operation in the GAWT operating theatre

Animal Birth Control (ABC) Programme

The ABC programme is an internationally known and accepted method of controlling the stray dog population.  It is, effectively, a mass sterilisation and vaccination programme and is proven (both in India and elsewhere) to be the only effective way of controlling the stray dog population and preventing the outbreak of rabies.

Our GAWT van, with a team of dog-catchers, visits an area known to contain a number of stray dogs and collects up to 10 animals per trip, where possible.

The dog-catcher’s standard equipment comprises of a pair of heavy-duty arm-length gauntlets (yes - sometimes the dogs try to bite when being caught!) and a large hessian sack with steel rings around the neck and a rope through the rings.  The sack is thrown over the dog and the rope pulled tight to close the sack with the dog inside (well that’s the theory!).  Sometimes, a dog can be caught by hand and then placed in the sack.  The dog is then quickly carried to the GAWT van and released into the back.

On returning to the shelter, the veterinary doctor examines them to determine the best course of action – treatment (for minor ailments), sterilisation (after treatment if necessary) or euthanasia (for very sick animals).

Animals requiring treatment are moved to the main kennels and the relevant course of action initiated.  They are then moved on for sterilisation when sufficiently healthy.

Animals selected for sterilisation (including those that may have had treatment first) are kept in holding cages overnight and operated on the next day.  During the operation, the right ear is clipped with a “V” shape to show that the animal has been sterilised.  They are then placed in recovery kennels where they are fed, walked and medicated (including anti-rabies vaccine) until the healing process is complete (5 days normally, 7 days in the monsoon). 

The animals are finally returned to their original area (most important for their well being) as healthy and safe dogs.  The average life of a stray dog in India is 4-5 years, with no possibility of producing puppies after sterilisation.

If you want to find out more please contact us.

Mid-way through a female dog sterilisation

The right ear is nicked to show that the dog has been sterilised and vaccinated

The dog is ready to be moved to the post-op recovery area

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A little patient gets checked over by a vet assistant

Veterinary Doctor Jayaram Dessai and assistant at the Curchorem operating theatre

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“Tiger” arrives by taxi, a little unsure about this vaccination business . . .

. . . but “Daisy” has been here before and decides not to hang around!

Private Treatments for Pets

We are campaigning for responsible pet ownership.  The key message is Vaccination and Sterilisation for your pet.

Did you know that a single un-sterilised female could give rise to over 50 extra strays in under two years?

The average litter size is 5-6 puppies, of which (say) 3 will be females.  After 6 months, unless they are sterilised, each of these females will probably get pregnant, giving birth to another litter each – that’s a further 18 puppies, of which about half (9) will be female. 

In 6 months, those 9 female puppies, if not sterilised, could themselves get pregnant and give birth – that’s another 54 puppies (9 litters of 6 puppies each). 

And we haven’t counted the litters that could be caused by the unsterilised male dogs!

We offer sterilisation at an affordable amount to encourage pet owners to take responsibility for this situation.  Both dogs and cats can be treated at our Curchorem facility.

If you want to find out more please contact us.

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"Bubbly", the great Dane brought in to GAWT by PFA-Vasco as a cruelty case.  It was nearly 30 kgs. under weight and had severe maggot wounds on all paws.  Despite all our efforts, it died after about 8 days.

If you come across a sick or injured animal, bring it to the shelter if you can, or call us so we can come out and collect it as soon as possible.

If you see a stray dog bite someone, tell us about it immediately so that we can remove the animal before it causes any more trouble.

Don’t try to catch it yourself, and make sure that the person who has been bitten goes to their doctor as soon as possible.

Sick, Injured & Abandoned Dogs

GAWT answers calls about sick and injured dogs; accident victims are given priority.  If the animal can be treated, it is brought to the shelter and, after medication, released back in its own area.

Dogs with mange are treated where found if possible, since bringing them to the shelter infects other dogs, which must then be isolated for a number of weeks, taking up space which could be used by other dogs on the ABC sterilisation programme.

It is an unfortunate fact that GAWT continues to come across cases of significant cruelty to animals – usually dogs - in South Goa.  The law is very clear – you can be fined and sent to prison if you are found guilty of cruelty, and GAWT will seek to prosecute wherever possible.

We also follow-up complaints of cruelty to dogs, visiting the owner and premises.  If necessary, we take possession of the animal (with the help of the police if circumstances so dictate) under the Prevention of Cruelty Act 1960.

Treatment is usually necessary, after which we try to re-house the animal.

If you see a case of cruelty, please let us know so that we can “name and shame” the individual(s) concerned and take legal action where appropriate.  You will be recognised as a good citizen for so doing.

“Who kicks a dog kicks his own soul towards hell.”
~ Will Judy

Laws of the Land

1.        Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1960 (Act 59 of 1960).

2.       Wildlife Protection Act 1992.

3.       Indian Penal Code 1960.

4.       Delhi Police Act 1968.

Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1960 (Act 59 of 1960)

Punishable Offences under Section 11

1.    Beating, kicking, over-riding, torturing or causing any animal pain or suffering by the owner or any other person.  Using any animal for work, when it is wounded or unfit.

2.    Charring or transporting animals in such a manner that it causes suffering.

3.    Caging or confining an animal in a cage, which does not allow the animal sufficient space for movement.

4.    Failing to provide pet animals with sufficient food, drink or shelter.   Abandoning an animal when old or diseased, keeping it on a short leash and insufficient exercise.  Pet-owners are covered under this act.

5.    Mutilating an animal: cutting ears or tails.

Penalty:  All these offences are punishable with a fine which may extend up to one hundred rupees or with imprisonment for a term which may extend to three months or with both.

If you want to find out more please contact us.

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Vaccination / Puppy Camp

Anti-Rabies Vaccination & Puppy Adoption Camps

The very successful Anti-Rabies Vaccination Programme started by us five years ago continues to be part of our dedication to social work in South Goa. This mobile unit organises visits between September and June to nearly 40 villages, with the cooperation of the local Church, to offer subsidized anti-rabies vaccinations to owners of pet dogs. We are always deeply grateful to the Priests, Panchayats and J.C.’s who help us by publicising these Camps as we strive to achieve a rabies-free Goa.

Adult rescue dogs, cats and kittens are also available for adoption from time to time, usually via the shelter.  We offer free anti-rabies vaccination and free sterilisation at 6 months of age, and keep detailed records on each animal adopted.  We also obtain the permission of the new owner to check on the cat / dog at any time.  Puppies and kittens are available direct from our shelter under the same conditions.

If you want to find out more please contact us.

Starting dog training at a puppy camp

Educating children about animal welfare

Puppy being vaccinated

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Shelter Statistics