The Benaulim, Colva and Varca beaches have literally gone to the dogs now with no solution in sight. Walking, jogging, swimming or just hanging around at the beach has become an activity fraught with peril; why, even the beach shacks have a resident dog or two in attendance, posing danger to diners.
All this talk of neutering, shifting the canines to pounds, sterilisation, vaccination, remains just that”talk. The three-member task force appointed by the government to handle the strays issue and chalk out a long-term action plan is a dead-in-the-water effort.
The situation is made worse by dog feeders overflowing with the milk of human kindness, which makes dogs habituated to particular sections of the beach. If these people love the dogs so much, they should take them home and care for them”why aggravate an already grave problem? The Supreme Court’s judgment on strays has had no effect as state governments refuse to act on it.
Strays have become a pan-India problem, and the scourge is spreading exponentially. A tiny state like Goa itself has around 60,000 canines infesting the beaches, roads, streets, supermarkets, building societies and what have you. The state has recorded 17,236 cases of dog bites in 2024, a jump of around 100% compared to the last two years, but the sarkar is least bothered.
Tourists have started avoiding Goa due to this menace and have taken their custom to safer destinations. Strays should be declared vermin; culling is the only solution, however bitter it may sound to some.
