AUGUSTO RODRIGUES
Five foreign tourists bitten by stray dogs on Mobor Beach in Cavelossim within twen ty-six days has left the Goa government in the red at a time when the Supreme Court of India is trying to stop the menace of stray dog bites in the country through Suo Moto Writ Peti tion (Civil) Nos(s) 5 of 2025. Records available with the Cavelossim panchayat indi cate that a total of fourteen guests staying in various top-end hotels along Mobor Beach have been victims — nine from the UK, one from Russia and four from India. The first attack on a UK resident reported this year was on February 8, when a British woman became a victim. “These repeated in cidents are a matter of seri ous concern. They not only pose a threat to the safety of our guests but also nega tively impact the reputation of the destination,” read a letter signed by the General Manager of a resort and in possession of O Heraldo. “I felt the dog that was bit ing me was hungry because he was trying to take chunks of my leg,” quivered James, who became the fourth for eigner from the United King dom (UK) to have been bitten by stray dogs along the coast al belt of Mobor in Cavelos sim since February 8, 2026. At first, James, who was on his morning jog at 7 am on March 6, 2026, did not get perturbed when he saw a pack of around seven or eight dogs come out from the woods (sand dunes) to wards the beach. “I did not worry at first because I love dogs. From among them, two dogs started snapping at me and one began biting my leg as the others circled barking,” recollects James as he sits by the hotel pool. One of the dogs, which James terms ‘ferocious’, was tearing the flesh from his leg as he tried to keep them at bay by shouting and gesticu lating. Unable to manage, he slipped and fell on the sand. “That is when I panicked as I could see no one on the beach. I thought they were going to come for my face or neck. I pushed myself up and started to make my way back to the hotel. The attack stopped when I saw an Indian jogging towards my direction. I do not know if it was because they saw him or because they had reached their territorial limits,” reflected James, who until the attack was enjoy ing his first visit to Goa. The attack, claims James, lasted for around two min utes. “Had they put up a board on the beach or had our hotel welcome pack intimated us about dog at tacks, I would have visit ed the gym,” observed the victim. The attack on James was raised during the ongoing ses sion of the Goa Legislative Assembly by Benaulim MLA Venzy Viegas. “Dog bites are a matter of concern to us and something needs to be done. Unfortunately, there is no government mechanism in place,” stated Cavelossim sarpanch Dixon Cyril Vaz. “Despite requests in writing to the Department of Tour ism and the Department of Animal Husbandry, there have been no directions from either department. What is the panchayat supposed to do all by itself?” wondered Vaz. “Tourists coming to enjoy Goa are becoming victims and I think the Department of Tourism needs to take a proactive role because it is tourism that is bleeding,” reasoned Vaz. While Director of the Department of Tourism Kedar Naik agrees that the problem needs an urgent solution, he be lieves that the panchayat and the Department of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Services (AH&VS) should work along with his department to quell the menace. “All three departments should sit together and draw up a plan,” added Naik. “The incidents happening on Mobor Beach,” according to Virginia Simoes, a member of the District Society for Pre vention of Cruelty to Animals (DSPCA), “can be brought under control only after the dogs are studied and the gov ernment begins creating the necessary infrastructure.” “It has also been brought to the notice of this court through a report published by NDTV that even foreign na tionals visiting India are falling prey to unprovoked stray dog attacks… This incident underscores that the menace is neither confined to rural or densely populated localities nor limited to vulnerable citizens, but has assumed propor tions that affect public safety, tourism, and the image of the country in the global perspective,” read one of the orders in Suo Moto Writ Petition (Civil) Nos(s) 5 of 2025. “Stray dogs,” according to Simoes, “are to be relocated after being sterilised and given other treatment only when they are found in educational areas, hospitals, sports com plexes, bus stands/depots and railway stations, according to Supreme Court guidelines.” “Stray dogs found on the beach can be released where they were found. This is the best strategy for Goa because the state has no cattle pound to relocate them. Till then, we will need to manage with whatever resources are at our disposal,” admitted Simoes. Attempts to contact Dr Nitin Naik, Deputy Director of the Department of AH&VS, proved futile till press time
