Team Herald
MARGAO: Two tourists were severely bitten by stray dogs on Cavelossim beach earlier this week, adding to a string of similar incidents in recent months. With at least eight reported cases since October, the attacks have alarmed locals and visitors, sparking fears about the impact on tourism.
Sarpanch Dixon Vaz warned that such incidents could deter tourists from returning to the area. “Our village is heavily dependent on tourism. If tourists feel unsafe, they may not come back, which would be disastrous for us,” Vaz said. He also revealed that he had reached out to Dr. Murugan Appupillai, Director of Mission Rabies, for assistance. “I have requested Dr Murugan to help us in this situation, and he assured me that a team will be deployed to Cavelossim immediately,” he added.
In a letter to Dr Murugan, Vaz described how tourists had their holidays disrupted due to serious injuries. A copy of the letter was also forwarded to Benaulim MLA Venzy Viegas, urging coordinated action to prevent further incidents.
The village panchayat has made efforts to manage the stray dog population by maintaining a shelter and feeding injured or abandoned dogs twice a day. “While we care for these animals, keeping our tourists safe is our top priority,” Vaz said.
The issue gained further traction after a social media post by Robin Grannell, the husband of a foreign tourist who was attacked on the beach towards the end of December. “My wife was bitten multiple times and will be left with scars,” Grannell wrote, detailing the weeks of treatment, including rabies and tetanus shots, that followed the attack.
"Despite initial measures like setting up feeding stations, these efforts have been abandoned. The dog that attacked my wife continues to roam freely and has reportedly attacked others," Grannell stated in his post. He warned fellow tourists to be cautious, adding that many visitors are now reconsidering their plans to return due to the
dog situation.