MARGAO
Stray dogs on the beach belt has come back to haunt the tourism stakeholders and fishermen at the Benaulim beach.
A Mumbai-based musician became the latest victim of the stray dogs on the prowl at the Benaulim beach after a stray dog bit him on his thigh.
The musician pointed out that he was jogging on the beach early Tuesday morning before stray dogs attacked him from behind, leaving him with a bite on his thigh.
Local fishermen led by Pele rushed to the rescue of the musician before he was dropped at his car. “Pele and the fishermen came to my rescue after I was attacked by the dogs. He later dropped me to my car. The government must do something to tackle the situation. Visitors would only take bad memories of their stay in the State,” he cautioned.
Pele told the media that the musician from Mumbai has become the latest victim of attacks by stray dogs on the Benaulim beach. “We have witnessed rising number of dog bite cases at the Benaulim beach over the last two weeks. We are sorry to say that no government authority has come to the beach to even find out the situation,” Pele lamented.
He said the fishermen as well as the tourism stakeholders have been demanding government’s intervention to stop the stray dog menace, but in vain. “Let me tell the government, the situation is indeed serious. Around 30-40 stray dogs on the prowl on the Benaulim beach. Since the time the shack owners have shut down the shacks on the beach, the strays have nothing to eat. We have to find out a permanent solution to the issue,” Pele said, as he expressed concern that visitors may avoid Benaulim if the government does not take immediate action.
Tourism Minister Rohan Khaunte, during his visit to Colva beach for the Spirit of Goa festival, had conceded the stray dog menace, not only on the beach belt, but across the State, and underscored the need to tackle the situation.
