CURCHOREM: The stray dog population is on the rise in Curchorem, particularly in the market area, and the menace can be seen near the educational institutions and other public places, too, including bus stand and railway station.
Stray dogs are moving in the market and other public places in search of food as they get it easily from the waste thrown in the garbage dumped in public.
According to Health Officer at Curchorem Primary Health Centre Dr Mohanrao Dessai, around 50 patients of dog bites are visiting every month to this centre to administer the anti-rabies vaccines. “When patients come from the neighbouring villages to our centre, we give them dose and also send our patients to Sanguem or Quepem centre whenever we ran out of stock,” Dr Dessai said.
Stating that presently they have enough stock of vaccines in the hospital, he urged the government authorities to supply it in adequate quantity on regular basis so that people can be treated at the centre instead of sending them to any other centres.
Chairman of New Educational Institute, Curchorem Pradip Kakodkar said that government is putting its best efforts to curb this stray dogs menace, but the problem still persists.
“Love for pets is really welcome, but it becomes really difficult when its turns into a menace especially in public places like school, hospitals, bus stand and railway station. Hence, more focus near schools and other public places would reduce number of bite cases,” Kakodkar said.
Urging the authorities to address the issue on priority, Headmaster of Guardian Angel High School Fr Jerry Vaz said that they have a security guard at the entrance gate, but still concerned about the safety of the students on roads while coming and going from the school. “So many dogs are visible every day on roads, public passages and near the educational institutions and the students have to come avoiding these street dogs flashing fear of dog bite in their mind,” Fr Vaz said.
Abay Dessai, a teacher of a local school, said that the government should not only monitor the functioning of the school and its staff, but also see the safety and security of the school going children. “Due to increasing of stray cattle and dog population around the schools, students, parents and the managements are showing serious concerns as they fear dog bite,” Dessai said condemning the lethargic attitude of the government machinery to tackle the growing menace of dogs and cattle on the streets.
Expressing similar concern, Lavina Mendonca, mother of a primary student, said that she has to come to school every day to drop and collect her child, fearing street dogs which are roaming freely.
“The rising dog menace particularly near the educational institution became a serious treat not only for the students and the staffer, but also the parents who come to drop their children,” Mendonca said and urged the authorities concerned to act immediately by taking the issue seriously.
Curchorem Railway Station Superintendent (SS) admitted that herds of dogs are entering on the platform and roam any time of the day causing a lot of inconvenience to the passengers.
