Team Herald
PONDA: Packs of stray dogs have unleashed a reign of terror in Ponda with the Sub-District Hospital (SDH) reporting that on an average 80 to 90 dog bite cases were being reported each month.
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The increasing stray dog population in Ponda has led to numerous problems, including dogs chasing and biting pedestrians, often resulting in accidents. Packs of stray dogs are particularly troublesome for bike riders, senior citizens, and children. In some cases, the sudden appearance of dogs on the roads has caused accidents, with tragic outcomes.
Umesh Naik, a senior citizen, emphasised the urgent need to control the stray dog population while ensuring the availability of anti-rabies vaccines. “Stray dog attacks are a serious problem, and it is high time the authorities take steps to resolve this,” he said.
According to the SDH report, the issue persists across Ponda taluka, with an alarming 90 dog bite cases being treated monthly. Nayan Naik, a local noted that bikers often meet with accidents while being chased by packs of dogs. He recalled incidents where children and senior citizens were attacked by stray dogs, some of which resulted in fatalities.
Sarita Parab, the Director of the People for Animals (PFA) Centre at Curti, Ponda, has been working tirelessly for the past 13 to 14 years to address the issue. She explained that PFA focuses on Animal Birth Control (ABC) programmes, anti-rabies vaccinations, and animal rescues. However, the challenges are significant.
Providing an update on the PFA’s activities for 2024, she said: “Out of the 19 Panchayats in Ponda, only seven, including the Ponda Municipality, have partnered with us for stray dog population control. Over the past year, we have sterilised 540 dogs, vaccinated 1,333 with anti-rabies vaccines, and addressed 250 rescue cases. On average, we handle 50 stray dog-related cases daily.”
Despite these efforts, Parab highlighted a critical challenge: the Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) signed with local bodies are not continuous. “The MoUs are signed for short-term periods of three months to a year. Once the agreement ends, our previous efforts are nullified, and the stray dog population grows unchecked. For effective and sustainable control, the MoUs need to be a continuous process,” she said.
The residents of Ponda have urged authorities to adopt a more proactive approach to resolve the stray dog menace and to support initiatives like those of the PFA in a more sustained and consistent manner.
