Stray dog attacks have returned to haunt tourists once again. A foreigner on a morning walk along the Cavelossim–Mobor beach was attacked by a pack of stray dogs and had to be rushed to a private hospital on account of multiple bites and wounds. Recently, a seven-year-old boy was bitten at Colva Beach, requiring immediate intervention by lifesavers. Lest we forget, cases of stray dogs either attacking visitors or aggressively biting them have been reported along beach belts since the Covid pandemic. When the issue came up before the Legislative Assembly on Monday, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant stated that the government would convene a meeting with NGOs to find a solution to the menace.
The dog bites have reignited public concern and exposed the government’s persistent failure to address this critical issue. The cases underscore the urgent need for effective measures to ensure public safety and restore confidence among residents and tourists alike. Sadly, despite clear guidelines by the Supreme Court, the State has not been able to implement sustainable and long-term solutions.
The Supreme Court’s observations in December 2025 and January 2026 were clear that public safety must take precedence. In that context, the top court had ordered the immediate removal of stray dogs from sensitive public spaces. It mandated shelters, stricter regulation of feeders, and improved infrastructure for waste management to reduce food sources that attract the animals. The Court had also criticised States for their lack of effective implementation, warning against building “castles in the air” with hollow promises.
However, while the Assembly was debating the vexed taxi issue and how it was adversely impacting tourism, little attention was paid to the issue of stray dogs, one that could tarnish Goa’s image as a welcoming destination, despite stakeholders repeatedly warning that Goa may be losing out on foreign tourists. It is an irony that Tourism Minister Rohan Khaunte has been persistently mentioning targeting quality over quantity and eyeing high-spending foreign tourists, while not paying enough attention to these niggling issues.
Goa’s vibrant beaches, despite the talk of pollution and litter, have been the key component of tourism. The tourism sector revolves around beaches, which is why we see packed crowds at popular beach stretches on weekends and holidays. Rather than giving the issue secondary treatment, the government should have shown some urgency in initiatives and follow-up action. Goa has around 60,000 stray dogs, and the population is only going up.
The State has been struggling with sterilisation programmes, and participation from local bodies has been dismal. The Animal Birth Control (ABC) scheme, designed to control the stray dog population humanely, remains poorly executed. Many municipalities and panchayats are reluctant to sign Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) with NGOs, leading to fragmented efforts and reliance on private initiatives that lack coordination. Officials acknowledge that sterilisation and vaccination efforts are often inadequate, leading to a tenfold increase in the stray dog population, especially along beaches.
The unresolved issue of stray dogs along beaches highlights a glaring failure of the state machinery to implement a comprehensive strategy. The government’s inability to coordinate efforts has only worsened the problem. With the safety of visitors at risk, the government must urgently adopt a coordinated and effective approach to address this persistent menace. This cannot be an endless routine of work-in-progress. Failure to prioritise this issue means only endangering lives and risking irreparable damage to Goa’s reputation as a premier tourist destination.
