Goa's tourism department and the local self-government bodies of Panaji, Calangute and Candolim had jointly undertaken to shoot stray dogs on the beaches and streets.

The court in its interim order has asked the government to frame a policy and guidelines for the elimination of stray dogs.

The petition had challenged the culling of dogs on the grounds that it was arbitrary. The petitioners maintained that the state government was not adhering to the provisions laid down in the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960. The tourism department continued to shoot sterilised stray dogs which did not pose a menace to society, they said.

Unlike in other citiesin the country where stray dogs are killed by electrocution, canines in Goa are shot by a shooter hired for the purpose.

This form of killing led to in several controversies including one on the expenses incurred by the shooters. The marksmen, who are paid on the basis of number of animals shot, were known to often inflate the figure.