Panaji: Chief minister Pramod Sawant on Monday addressed the issue of stray dog bites on Goa’s beaches, saying the dogs would be “lifted and rehabilitated”.Inaugurating the World Rabies Day event in Panaji, Sawant said tourism department had reported 16 dog-bite cases on beaches so far this year, of which 10 occurred at Benaulim beach.“Many animal lovers and NGOs do great work for stray animals. However, when street dogs rely on regular feeding and suddenly go without food for days, they can become aggressive and bite people. We are currently facing this issue along our beaches,” he said.“There are too many dogs on the beaches. Shacks tend to give their leftover food to them. Once these shacks are closed, the unfed stray dogs tend to bite visitors. This has become a serious concern. We have therefore resolved to lift such dogs as soon as possible in consultation with organisations and rehabilitate these dogs at suitable locations. We have started this process,” he said.Speaking at the event, Sawant said rabies remained one of the most serious consequences of dog bites and warned that once clinical symptoms appear, the disease is almost invariably fatal. He stressed the importance of prevention, particularly vaccination, prompt medical attention after exposure and systematic management of the dog population.“Rabies control today will be rabies-free Goa tomorrow,” Sawant said.Sawant also appealed to pet owners to ensure their dogs were vaccinated and properly cared for, saying responsible ownership was crucial to preventing rabies and reducing dog-bite incidents.He said sterilisation efforts in Goa had produced encouraging results and stressed that the programme would require continued cooperation from NGOs, local bodies and communities.He also highlighted the need for accessible and affordable veterinary services for dogs and cats, pointing to the financial burden on owners when animals require prolonged hospitalisation or specialised treatment.“The objective should be to create a veterinary-care system capable of serving both animals,” he said, adding that he had paid Rs 1.5 lakh for three days of hospitalisation for his own dog.Sawant called for closer coordination between directorate of animal husbandry and veterinary services, directorate of health, directorate of education, Mission Rabies, animal welfare NGOs, teachers, local bodies and community organisations.
