MARGAO
The recurring menace of stray dogs has once again raised concerns in the tourist village of Cavelossim, with a domestic tourist becoming the latest victim of a dog bite on Thursday, prompting the managements of starred hotels to approach the village panchayat for a permanent solution.
With the village reporting 25 dog bite cases in the last eight months of the last tourist season, Cavelossim Sarpanch Dixon Vaz called a meeting with representatives of the five starred hotels dotting the village’s coastal belt.
The heads of departments of these hotels appealed to the Cavelossim Sarpanch to work out a solution to contain the menace of stray dogs on the beach belt.
The Sarpanch assured the hotel representatives that the Panchayat would ensure that tourists holidaying in the village are safe. “We do not want tourists to undergo the trauma of being bitten by stray dogs. We have taken certain steps to mitigate the problem, and we have succeeded to a large extent. The Panchayat will notify the second designated feeding area on the Mobor stretch of the beach belt,” he said.
He added: “A total of 25 dog bite cases were registered in the village in the last eight months during the last tourist season. This morning, a guest from a starred hotel became the latest victim and is convalescing in the hospital.”
Saying that the Panchayat has been feeding stray dogs at designated places on the beach belt twice a day, Dixon attributed the problem on the Mobor stretch to the absence of feeding.
“People have identified a couple of ferocious dogs on the Mobor stretch. We will see how best to take care of these dogs in coordination with the Department of Animal Husbandry and NGOs. We have to ensure that tourists visiting the village are safe and return home with good memories,” he added.
