Riders at risk of stray dogs in Porvorim

ANIL SHANKHWALKER 

Riding a two-wheeler on the roads of Porvorim can be dangerous, not because of the traffic, but because of the growing numbers of stray dogs chasing two-wheelers that has resulted in accidents and even riders getting bitten.

As the number of stray dogs in Porvorim and the surrounding villages grows, so too does the number of people who have had uncomfortable and close encounters with the animals. 

With no proper strategy to tackle this menace – NGOs claim that central funding has all but dried up and the State does not consistently fund this – the stray dog population keeps increasing, with a pack of dogs at every 

corner. 

It’s not just scooterists that have been victims of the strays, but pedestrians, cyclists, and school children too. Besides attacking riders and pedestrians, the dogs also dart across roads causing accidents and sometimes themselves getting hit by speeding vehicles. 

With no Primary Health Centre at Porvorim, victims of these dog accidents have to be rushed to the Goa Medical College and Hospital at Bambolim for treatment.

The convener of Penha de Franca Citizen’s Forum Agnelo Lobo said that the stray dog population has become extremely worrying for residents. “Currently more than 1000 stray dogs roam all over the plateau and neither the panchayats under whose jurisdiction the area falls nor GSPCA are able to tackle the problem. There is a dire need to conduct camps for mass sterilization of stray dogs,” he said.

The issue of stray dogs has been raised by the residents of Porvorim several times at the gram sabhas of Village Panchayat of Penha de Franca. Though the panchayat has admitted that there has been a rise in the number of stray dogs in Porvorim and surrounding areas, they have expressed their inability to find a solution as there is a ban on the killing of the stray dogs. 

The Goa Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (GSPCA) has also expressed their inability to catch the dogs and keep them in their custody. They also say that they have stopped sterilization of stray dogs free of cost.

Former Western Region Manager, Mission Rabies, Goa Dr Astrid Almeida said that it costs around Rs 900 per dog for sterilization. Since this is an expensive affair, animal welfare organizations have virtually stopped sterilization of stray dogs free of cost.

Speaking to Herald, Advocate Norma Alvares, who is involved with Mission Rabies, said they have not received any finance. “Animal Welfare Organizations are practically unable to conduct sterilization programmers except on a very small scale unlike the way it used to be done in the past as the Ministry of Environment has taken the view that Animal Welfare Board of India should stop funding Animal Welfare Organizations who have received funds for over five years and give support to new organizations,” said Alvares. 

According to her, it is now the responsibility of municipalities and State governments to fund the Animal Birth Control (ABS) programmes. Bombay, Delhi, Bangalore, Chennai, Hyderabad, Srinagar and Shimla are all funding the ABC programme.