Principal Secretary, Animal & Sheep Husbandry, Fisheries and Transport Department, Dr. Asgar Hassan Samoon today chaired a meeting to review the animal welfare activities in Jammu and Kashmir.Commissioner JMC, Pankaj Magotra; Municipal Veterinary Officer JMC, Dr Zaffar Iqbal; SSP, Rajesh Sharma; Chief Animal Husbandry Officers of Jammu, Udhampur, Kathua, Samba and representatives of several Animal Foundations attended the meeting.Dr Samoon emphasized upon the senior officers of concerned departments to ensure strict implementation of Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1960.It was decided in the meeting that a workshop would be organized to sensitize SHOs, IOs and Traffic Police regarding humane handling of livestock captured from cattle smugglers.Dr Samoon informed that Transport department has issued a circular (SRO- 447) for safe transportation of livestock, which should be strictly implemented by law enforcement agencies and concerned vets.The meeting was informed that Municipal Corporation Jammu (JMC) is establishing a cattle pond in Serikhurd, Nagrota at a cost of Rs 11 crore for housing 350 cattle heads. The design of cattle pond was also presented in the meeting.The meeting called for keeping a close check on overloading of animals by law and enforcement agencies during their transportation. It further stressed on identifying land for Cow Shelters (Goshalas).Director Animal Husbandry Kashmir, Purnima Mittal, Director Animal Husbandry Jammu, Vivek Sharma, besides senior officers of other districts attended the meeting through video conferencing and briefed about the steps being taken for the welfare of animals in JK.Representatives of Ambphala Goshala also attended the meeting and gave various suggestions regarding welfare of cattle.