In response to the recent news article on stray dogs on beaches and their impact on tourism, I would like to share my perspective. Stray dogs become a problem mainly when they are not sterilised or vaccinated, which leads to an increase in their population. In comparison, the unruly behaviour of some domestic tourists is a bigger issue than stray dogs.
Three years ago, when I moved from Mumbai to Goa, I had very little experience with stray dogs and was scared of the barking in the streets where I walked. Over time, after living near strays, I understood that barking is usually a protective behaviour. The dogs are guarding themselves and the residents in their area who feed them and allow peaceful coexistence. Dogs generally bark and try to bite only when provoked, mistreated, or if they are suffering from rabies.
Regarding the rise in stray dogs near beaches, based on what I have seen and heard, some residents who feed these dogs do not take responsibility for their sterilisation and vaccination. This happens despite NGOs conducting free drives and camps. As a result, the dogs multiply, and puppies are often abandoned near beaches, which are less monitored areas.
We should be careful in how we report cases related to stray dogs. In my opinion, incidents of harassment by domestic tourists, whether reported or not, occur more often than cases of dog barking or bites. As a regular beach visitor, I usually see dogs minding their own business and barking only when provoked.
