A heart-wrenching tragedy struck Talem Durgabhat in Goa on April 18 when a 1.5-year-old girl was attacked and killed by stray dogs. The toddler, Anabiya Shaikh, had come to visit her uncle along with her mother for a short holiday. While playing in the courtyard around 6:45 AM, she wandered out through an open door and into the street. Unfortunately, the main gate of the house was also open. Within moments, a few stray dogs launched a sudden and brutal attack, dragging the child nearly 50 feet and leaving her fatally injured.
The incident sent shockwaves through the neighborhood, leaving residents grief-stricken and enraged. Witnesses reported that Anabiya was playing alone when the dogs attacked her. A morning walker witnessed the horrifying scene and shouted for help, prompting residents to rush to the spot. The injured child was rushed to the Ponda sub-district hospital, but doctors declared her dead on arrival. The grieving parents had waited nearly five years after marriage for Anabiya's birth. Her sudden and violent death was more devastating for them.
Anger and fear have gripped Talem Durgabhat following this gruesome incident, as locals blame municipal negligence for the growing stray dog problem. According to residents, such attacks are not new, and stray dogs have become an everyday threat. Municipal President Anand Naik acknowledged the problem and stated that the municipality, in collaboration with People for Animals, is attempting to sterilize as many stray dogs as possible. However, locals argue that efforts so far have been inadequate. The need for a long-term and large-scale solution has now become urgent, as fear spreads among families with young children.
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Responding to the public outcry, Municipal Councillor Ritesh Naik said that a space has been earmarked near the Kurti Animal Husbandry Office for sterilizing all stray dogs in the Ponda area. Authorities intend to move dogs from urban zones to the designated area for proper care and control. The municipal council is pushing for formal clearances to expedite the process. Their primary goal is to ensure that incidents like Anabiya's death never happen again.
Agriculture Minister Ravi Naik labeled the incident as deeply unfortunate and extended condolences to the bereaved family. He emphasized that legal restrictions prevent authorities from killing stray dogs, but affirmed that controlling their population is possible and necessary. The minister urged parents to remain vigilant and avoid leaving young children unattended in open areas. He also stressed the importance of supervision while dropping children to and from school. As stray dog numbers continue to rise, the government is under increasing pressure to strike a balance between animal rights and human safety.