PONDA: The Sub District Hospital, Ponda has treated 892 patients for dog bites this year from the month of January till August. May witnessed 163 dog bite cases which apparently happened to be the highest.
The rise in the number of stray dogs attacking people has locals worried who have demanded for effective measures at the earliest.
As per the hospital records, 114 patients were treated in January, 130 each in February and March, 125 in April, 163 in May, 95 in June, 53 in July and 82 in August. This means on an average, 110 patients were treated for dog bites.
The patients hail from Ponda, Dharbandora, Tiswadi, Bicholim, Sattari, Salcete, Quepem and Sanguem and majority of the patients were from Ponda. The number of stray dogs have risen in Curti, Bethora, Borim, Kavalem, Veling-Priol panchayats as well as in the municipal area. Locals have been dumping their waste on the roadside which attracts stray dogs and cattle. The stray animals feast on the piled up garbage and have also been the reason behind multiple road mishaps.
The garbage particularly is dumped along the Tisk-Usgao bypass road.
“The presence of stray dogs has increased in Ponda. Many people feed the dogs on the roadside which is dangerous. This puts locals and especially children in grave danger. The authorities need to come up with effective measures to combat this issue,” said Hanumant Naik, a local.
“The stray dogs now crowd near the high schools as well. After eating their mid-day-meals, many students throw out their leftover food outside the school buildings which attract stray animals. This could be dangerous for the students as many times these dogs become aggressive with their fellow canines over food,” said another local Gurudas Naik.
