Strays on the Benaulim beach on Friday. Captured by : The Goan
MARGAO
Even as the 24-year-old runner is on medication after being attacked by stray dogs on Benaulim beach earlier this week, instances of strays attacking visitors and tourists have come to light, with victims making fervent pleas to the Tourism department to address the menace.
Fishermen and other stakeholders have also requested the Tourism Minister Rohan Khaunte to intervene and ensure the safety of visitors and to take care of the strays.
A Russian lady tourist, Cristina, who had a bitter experience with strays at Benaulim beach, has said she had requested the Tourism Minister during his interaction with tourism stakeholders to find a resolution to the menace of strays on the beach.
“This is my first visit to Goa and Benaulim, and I have fallen in love with the State. Goa has beautiful and clean beaches, besides kind-hearted people and delicious food,” she said.
Cristina, however, said she has come across a big problem during her visit to the State, the issue of stray dogs. While she was cycling on the beach, Cristina said she was attacked by around 10 dogs, but timely intervention by local fisherman Pele Fernandes saved her from trouble.
“I like cycling very much and when I was cycling on the Benaulim beach, around 10 dogs surrounded me and tried to attack me. Pele and the fishermen came to my rescue in the nick of time and saved me from dog bites. I was a brave act by Pele”.
Appealing to the Tourism Minister to find a solution to the problem, Cristina said the Minister and the government may resolve the issue by creating care houses for the dogs. “This can be one solution so that the tourists and visitors can be saved from the dogs,” she added.
Fisherman Pele informed that he was not around in Benaulim when the 24-year-old girl was attacked by stray dogs on the beach earlier this week. He, however, pointed out that he had rescued a Russian lady tourist recently, even as he conceded that the beach stretch is facing the problem of strays.
Pele pointed out that stray dogs face the problem of food when the shacks down their shutters after the tourism season. He said there are instances when these dogs stray into the adjoining residential areas in search of food. “When I saw around 10 dogs about to attack the Russian lady tourist, I rushed towards her and rescued her,” he said, while appealing to the Tourism Minister to come out with a solution to the problem.
“In the past too, we had made a plea to the Goa government to come out with a solution to address the stay dog problem. The Tourism department has its jurisdiction over the beach belt and hence instead of waiting for the local bodies, the government should initiate measures to address the problem,” he said.
He added: “No doubt, foreigners as well as locals provide food to the strays. But, after curtains come down on the beach shack season, the strays find it difficult to find food. The government should intervene.”
The father of the girl from Loutolim, who sustained as many as seven bites on her legs in the attack by strays on Benaulim beach, said the government should find a solution to the problem.
“Goa is a tourist State. My daughter had a harrowing experience while running on the Benaulim beach. Foreign tourists and domestic visitors should carry sweet memories back home and not bites of the strays,” he said.
He said that the government should come out with a holistic approach to address the issue.
Stop-gap measures on beaches before policy is formulated: Min
Tourism Minister Rohan Khaunte has conceded that the stray dog menace is a very serious issue not only affecting Benaulim but across the State, as he underscored the need to meet the challenge posed by the issue.
Mulling a strong policy to tackle the stray dogs menace, Khaunte said he would speak to Chief Minister Pramod Sawant to address the challenge through the Animal Husbandry Department.
He, however, said that pending the government coming out with the policy, the beach cleaning agency engaged by the Tourism department will be told to handle the situation taking into account the interest and safety of the visitors.
“This is a very serious issue not just in Benaulim but across the State. The Tourism department is treating the issue very seriously. Whether it is the beach or other areas, we have to come out with a solution by engaging the dog lovers,” he said.
