Team Herald
PORVORIM: Citing massive stray dog menace in the State, particularly along the coastal belt, BJP’s Calangute MLA Michael Lobo told the Goa Legislative Assembly that foreign tourists have dropped as they fear being bitten by stray animals.
“The foreigners fear dog bites. Their number (of arrivals at tourist locations) has reduced as a result of this menace. Any dog can be infected with rabbies. There are number of stray dogs and stray cattle posing danger to everyone,” he told the House during the discussion on the demand for grants to Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Services on Wednesday.
Claiming that the menace was not restricted to the beaches, the MLA alleged that over 800 stray dogs wander in and around Goa Medical College. Similarly, at least 80 stray dogs are found at Mapusa and Panjim markets. “People fear being bitten by dogs,” he said.
In a bid to curb the menace, Lobo offered land in his constituency to set up a shelter home subject to the State govt making a budgetary provision. “Calangute comunidade is willing to give land to the government to set up a shelter home for stray dogs and other stray cattle. We can rope in NGOs working in this field but the government should make budgetary provision to ensure all facilities to run the shed,” he said.
