In the wake of a shocking stray dog attack on a child in Ponda, concerns over stray dog management have grown across South Goa. A group of women recently staged a protest in a residential area, objecting to unregulated feeding of stray dogs. Now, citizens across Salcete taluka are demanding an immediate and practical action plan from authorities.
The issue is especially pressing in the commercial city of Margao, besides on the beaches, where the stray dog population is reportedly increasing rapidly. Packs of dogs are commonly seen near markets, hospitals, schools, and residential areas, raising concerns about safety and hygiene.
Peter D’Souza, a resident of Seraulim, said, “We’ve had several near-miss incidents in our village. Children are scared to walk alone, and yet no real action is being taken. We need urgent intervention before it turns into a tragedy.”
Sandeep Naik from Margao added, “Margao is the commercial hub of South Goa, yet we’re battling a basic civic issue like this. There has to be a policy in place to manage feeding zones and sterilization drives effectively.”
Vijaya Shirodkar, who joined the protest, stated, “We love animals, but not at the cost of public safety. There’s no control over where and how people feed strays. It’s creating chaos in our neighbourhoods.”
Interestingly, even animal lovers are now demanding a structured action plan. They emphasise the need for stray dog management to be both humane and systematic so that dogs are not wrongly perceived as a nuisance. They advocate for designated feeding areas, regular sterilisation, vaccination drives, and community awareness to balance safety with compassion.
Citizens are urging the Directorate of Municipal Administration and the Department of Animal Husbandry to act swiftly and work with local bodies and NGOs to implement a long-term solution before another unfortunate incident takes place.