Team Herald
PONDA: In a tragedy that has left the State in shock, 19-month-old Nabiya Sheikh was mauled to death by a pack of stray dogs early Friday morning at Talle-Durgabhat in Ponda. The attack occurred around 6:30 am, while the toddler was playing just outside her
grandmother’s home.
CCTV footage shows the child walking through the gate onto the road moments before being attacked by a pack of around 15 dogs.
Despite her cries, she was savagely bitten before anyone could come to her rescue. Locals rushed her to the Sub-District Hospital (SDH) in Ponda, where she was declared brought dead. A post-mortem confirmed multiple dog bite injuries as the cause of death.
The tragedy has sparked widespread outrage across Goa. Nabiya, the only child of her parents who had been married for seven years before her birth, was visiting her grandmother’s home with her mother. The family, originally from Usgao, now resides in Shapur, Ponda.
Ponda Dy SP Shivram Vaigankar confirmed the extent of the fatal injuries. “She was playing near the gate while her family was inside. As soon as she stepped out, the dogs attacked and dragged her away,” he said.
Officials, including Ponda PI Vijaykumar Kavlekar, PMC Chairperson Anand Naik, and Councillor Ritesh Naik, visited the site. Chairperson Naik expressed deep sorrow and emphasised the need for a long-overdue systemic overhaul. “PMC carries out sterilisation drives with help from NGOs like People for Animals. But the dogs are picked up, sterilised, and then dropped back in the same area. This method clearly isn’t working,” he said.
Though this is the first fatal attack in the area, residents say stray dog incidents have been on the rise, particularly targeting children and the elderly.
According to hospital data, Ponda Sub-District Hospital records an average of 80 to 90 dog bite cases every month—a grim indicator of the growing danger.
Social worker Viraj Sapre criticised the government’s hands-off approach: “Stray dogs roam freely in every colony, ward and village. They chase cars, attack bikers, and now we’ve lost a child. The government cannot leave citizens at the mercy of strays. It must stop outsourcing responsibility to NGOs and take full charge—by building shelter homes and managing feeding, especially since culling is banned.”
He also pointed out that improper feeding practices worsen aggression. “When dogs are left hungry or fed on chicken waste—which is banned but still common—they become violent,” he said.
Councillor Ritesh Naik echoed the concern. “We had requested land near Goa Dairy for a dedicated dog shelter, but there's been no action. Also, residents need to stop dumping food and wet waste on roadsides — it’s attracting strays and escalating the problem.” Residents confirm that an isolated stretch in Durgabhat, regularly used for dumping leftovers, has become a magnet for stray packs.
Rajesh Naik, a neighbour of the victim, demanded swift and lasting action. “The government must ensure safety, especially for children. We can’t allow another innocent life to be lost like this.”
Animal lover Mohan Naik offered a different viewpoint: “Dogs are loyal animals. If properly fed and cared for, they rarely attack. Citizens should be educated and encouraged to adopt strays, so they don’t turn aggressive out of hunger.”
Nabiya’s death has not only devastated her family and community—it has reignited the urgent debate over Goa’s failure to control the stray dog population.
The Chief Minister had recently promised a comprehensive dog management policy within three months. But with lives being lost, the question remains: how many more deaths will it take before the government finally acts?