MAPUSA
In a surprising development, the Pit bull involved in the recent fatal attack on a seven-year-old child in Anjuna has died while in the custody of a private animal shelter organisation.
The three-year-old dog, which was handed over to the Welfare for Animals in Goa (WAG) after the tragic incident, was found dead on Tuesday morning.
The exact cause of death remains unknown and will be determined following an autopsy.
Anjuna Police confirmed that after the child’s death, the Pit bull was initially taken into custody by the State government’s veterinary department.
However, due to the lack of a dedicated shelter facility within the department, the dog was transferred to WAG, a shelter based in Siolim.
The veterinary department has since retrieved the dog's body and conducted an autopsy to uncover the cause of death.
"When we handed over the dog to the veterinary department, it was in a normal state," stated Anjuna Police Inspector Suraj Gawas.
He added that the cause of death will be confirmed once the post-mortem report is received.
An incident that may have contributed to the dog’s sudden demise was the change in its eating schedule following the arrest of its owner, Abdul Kader Khwaja, who was taken into custody after the fatal attack.
The veterinary department suggested that this disruption could have played a role in the dog’s death.
Dr Gustavo Pinto, a well-known veterinarian based in Panaji, expressed his shock at the dog’s death and raised concerns that the Pit bull might have had rabies.
"The death is surprising. There’s a possibility the dog had rabies. A thorough investigation of the dog’s brain should be conducted to determine if rabies was a factor," Dr Pinto remarked.
In a related development, Abdul Kader Khwaja, the owner of the Pit bull, was granted bail on Tuesday.
The fatal incident, which occurred last week, involved the Pit bull mauling a seven-year-old boy to death. The child had accompanied his mother to her workplace in Anjuna when the tragedy occurred, leading to widespread shock and anger in the community.
