The Times of India          28.09.2010

MARGAO: A recent incident where a six-year-old boy was mauled by a pack of strays near the Multipurpose Institute at Borda, has once again brought into focus the stray-dog menace in and around the commercial capital.

Local activist Albert Fernandes said the boy, the child of migrant workers, was bitten when playing in the area and was administered the anti-rabies vaccine at Hospicio hospital the same day by some citizens concerned.

Gogol resident Kiran Hede told TOI that some 20-25 stray dogs hang around the small temple near the Multipurpose Institute. “The area is dangerous for pedestrians and motorcyclists both at night and early morning. Walkers often have to carry a stick to keep the dogs at bay. We have complained often to the Margao municipal council (MMC), but a foolproof solution is yet to come by.”

Despite a dog shelter set up by the MMC at Agalli around six months ago, the vexed issue is far from being solved, claimed Fernandes. “It is a concern that the population of strays (dogs and cattle) is fast growing despite the so-called sterilization effort.”

Pointing to poor sanitation conditions in different parts of the city, he alleged , “Overflowing dust bins and un-cleared garbage, especially in Borda and Gogol, have contributed to the increase in the canine population. Meat being dumped in the open is another contributor.”

A senior doctor at Hospicio hospital said the medical institute has seen an increase in the number of dog-bite patients referred to the hospital for the anti-rabies vaccine and also for treatment of serious bites.

As per Hospicio’s register of dog bites, 80-90 cases of dog bites are reported to the hospital’s casualty ward every month. Hospital authorities, however, insist the actual number could be much higher.

“Apart from Hospicio, victims seek treatment at private clinics or from alternative medicine practitioners. It is therefore very difficult to get actual figures of dog-bite victims,” a senior doctor said. He added that most dog-bite cases are reported from urban areas and children are most at risk.

Civic authorities, meanwhile, insist adequate efforts are on to tackle the stray-dog issue.

MMC chairperson Savio Coutinho told TOI that the class A council has established a shelter for stray dogs in a bid to tackle the issue. “The dog shelter has been functioning for the past few months from Agalli in Fatorda,” said Coutinho.

The ‘ 5.65 lakh project has been undertaking the Animal Birth Control (ABC) programme since March this year. However, lack of proper infrastructure has marred the functioning of the shelter operated by the South Goa Welfare Trust for Animals (SGWTA).

Shelter in-charge Sandra Fernandes told TOI that the MMC has failed miserably to provide adequate facilities at the shelter.

“Just 250 sq m of shelter and 20 cages, of which one is isolated for rabid dogs, has been provided. Since the past week, three cages have been isolated for catering to rabid dogs. How are we supposed to sterilize 100 dogs as incorporated in the MoU? It takes 10 days after the sterilization operation for the healing process to complete and only then can we put the dog back in its habitat,” Fernandes explained.

Pointing to water accumulated in the shelter, she charged, “The shelter is in a deplorable condition as the MMC has failed to solve the drainage problem. Water has accumulated and the place stinks. A lot of garbage has also been dumped in the area posing a health threat. Several complaints to the MMC have failed to yield results.”

Claiming that the NGO had asked for four rooms but has been provided only two, she said, “Moreover, the ‘ 11,000 provided to us is enough to take care of the salaries of two staff and one driver. The cost of food and medicines is taken care of through donations.”

Fernandes claimed, “The public is equally to blame for the increase in the stray-dog population. Pet owners instead of sterilizing their dogs often dump the puppies in the market or on the streets. The pets are also not properly looked after and are left to die when sick or old.”