The Supreme Court came down heavily on State governments over poor compliance with directives on stray dogs. The court flagged inadequate sterilisation, shelters and fencing. “They (States) are building castles in the air”, and are engaged in “storytelling”, were some of the pointed remarks of the bench. Interestingly, the court also noted that tourism is being impacted by the presence of stray dogs on beaches in Goa.
While the observations were applicable broadly to States which have failed on this count, Goa finds itself in that pool because there has been a miserable failure in policy execution. Efforts to control the growing dog population are falling woefully short. Plans of installing dog shelters, initiating sterilisation programmes and the Education Department’s circular mandating fencing of school premises have been largely on paper. Stray dogs continue to rule the nooks and corners, roads and public spaces, including hospitals and beaches.
Goa has reason to be worried because statistics depict a grim picture. Data shows that the 11,899 dog bite cases in 2023 shot up to 19,000-plus in 2025, aggregating to over 60 per cent increase in three years. The Animal Birth Control Programme, which is supposed to be the primary plan of sustainable stray dog management, appears to have lost steam. Data also reveals that several municipalities had conducted no sterilisation camps despite funds being sanctioned. This is a poor reflection of neglect and insensitivity to the issue at hand.
It is sad that the Supreme Court had to raise an alarm and pointedly say that the stray dog issue is hurting Goa’s tourism. For a State that is considering tourism as its “bread-and-butter” sector, this should have been a introspection by default and a top priority, especially when the discourse is repeatedly veering around quality and high-spending foreign tourists. No foreigner would like to be chased by dogs or bitten while on a stroll on the beach. And a responsible Tourism Department should be serious in tackling the root of the problem, rather than trying desperately to contain the damage.
There is no denying that Goa has taken baby steps in the formation of a task force, signing of MoUs for new shelters, and circulars to fence school premises, but the urgency in fixing the issue at hand is not visible. Goa is staring at an estimated 56,000-plus stray dog population, and it’s growing bigger every passing year. There are no government-run dog shelters in the State at this point, nor is the sterilisation programme consistent.
The political and administrative reluctance to act decisively is evident and which is why we see dogs at the GMC campus, at district hospitals and even at the South Goa Collectorate. The Supreme Court’s critical comments reflect a deep frustration between promises and reality, and one is left wondering whether the political class is genuinely interested in this issue because the stray dogs issue doesn’t yield political mileage.
It is plausible that policymakers are paying lip service to the issue. Stray dog management cannot be a five-year plan, because there are consequences. The State must fast-track plans for setting up shelters and continue sterilisation programmes round the year. The departments must move beyond rhetoric and take urgent, transparent steps to address this crisis; failing which, public safety, animal welfare, and the State’s reputation will continue to suffer.
