The Supreme Court’s order that stray dogs in Delhi be moved to shelters in eight weeks is a step, at last, in the right direction. These dogs have created a nuisance and traumatised people, and the same holds true here in Goa’s cities and villages, where the quality of life has been affected and citizens live in fear. There have been incidents of dog attacks on children too, and so far, nothing has been done to ensure the safety of the public or, ironically, the welfare of the dogs.
The Goa government should apply this rule to the strays here, numbered at 90,000 and more, which have already endangered lives. It is high time that municipal authorities, who throw up their hands saying they can do nothing, now get to moving these “community” dogs to safer places.
No one is against dogs, even those who may not be passionate dog lovers, but to have these roaming freely in residential areas and being a danger to kids and seniors has to end. Hopefully, this issue will now be sorted out. Much as the common man needs his safety and space, so do the dogs that fight and bark through the night. They too need the safety and care of a shelter. It is rather perplexing that dog lovers saw “animal care” best exemplified in dogs roaming around freely, foraging for food and not being able to get it, and then attacking people. Above all, controlling this dog menace will make the state a little friendlier for tourists.
