By Suraj Nandrekar | Panaji
The tragic death of seven-year-old Prabhas Kalangutkar in Anjuna last August still haunts the state. Mauled by a Pitbull while accompanying his mother to her employer’s home in Pequen-Peddem, Prabhas succumbed to grievous injuries to his face and neck. The horror of the incident reverberated across Goa, igniting public outrage and demands for immediate action. While such cases have occurred before, this one struck a raw nerve—making it clear to many that the state could no longer afford inaction.
Over the last two years, Goa has witnessed a sharp rise in dog attacks. Official data from the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare reveals a grim escalation: 8,057 dog-bite cases in 2022 surged to 11,904 in 2023, and then to a staggering 17,236 in 2024. January 2025 alone saw 1,789 cases reported. These numbers speak not just of a public safety issue, but of a crisis spiralling out of control. With powerful dog breeds like Pitbulls and Rottweilers increasingly at the center of mauling incidents, the government has finally moved to act.
In February 2025, the Goa Cabinet approved a landmark amendment to the Animal Breeding and Domestication laws, aiming to curb the menace of ferocious dogs. Under the revised Goa Animal Breeding, Domestic Regulations, and Compensation Ordinance 2024, the state announced a ban on the import, breeding, and sale of Rottweilers and Pitbulls. The ordinance made it mandatory for existing owners of these breeds to register and sterilize their pets, and to submit affidavits accepting full responsibility for any future harm caused by the animals. Violations would invoke strict legal penalties under sections of the Indian Penal Code such as 289, 337, and 338.
The move, though controversial in some circles, gained considerable public support—especially from families affected by dog attacks. Beyond Prabhas’s case, Goa has seen a string of disturbing incidents over the past two years. In Taleigao, in August 2023, two young siblings aged five and seven were mauled by a Rottweiler while on an evening walk near their home. The children were rushed to Goa Medical College with serious injuries to their faces, heads, and chests. Police filed charges against the dog owner under multiple IPC sections, underscoring the scale of negligence.
In Camurlim in December 2023, a 10-year-old girl walking home was bitten by a Rottweiler that had escaped its property. Though she survived, the incident left her emotionally scarred and physically wounded. A month later in January 2025, in Assagao, a man returning home near a local primary school was bitten on the leg by a free-roaming Rottweiler. Villagers had reportedly warned the owner about the dog’s aggressive behavior, but those warnings were ignored until it was too late.
However, the menace is not limited to pet breeds alone. In what was perhaps one of the most chilling reminders of Goa’s broader canine crisis, a 21-month-old toddler, Anabiya Shaikh, was killed by a pack of stray dogs in Durgabhat, Ponda, in April 2025. The toddler’s death led to widespread protests, bringing attention to the state’s growing stray dog problem. According to data, most of the dog bites recorded are not caused by exotic breeds but by street dogs—unvaccinated, unsterilized, and unmonitored.
It is against this backdrop of fear and frustration that the government tabled the Goa Animal Breeding & Domestication Regulation & Compensation Bill, 2025 in the state Assembly on July 7. The bill—slated for debate during the monsoon session—seeks to give legislative backing to the earlier ordinance, ensuring it has the full force of law. Authorities say the proposed law is designed not just to restrict aggressive breeds, but to instill a culture of responsible pet ownership.
But the ban has not been without criticism. Animal rights organizations, including PETA India, have raised concerns that breed-specific bans are a form of “canine discrimination.” They argue that the problem lies not in the breed, but in poor ownership, lack of training, and weak enforcement of existing animal control laws. “Punish the deed, not the breed,” one animal welfare volunteer wrote in a Reddit forum discussion on the ban. Veterinarians echo this sentiment, noting that any dog—regardless of breed—can be dangerous if mistreated or improperly trained.
In semi-rural areas of Goa, implementation challenges loom large. Mandatory sterilization and registration will require both awareness campaigns and veterinary infrastructure—resources that are currently thin on the ground. In villages and small towns, local panchayats often lack the tools or knowledge to carry out such regulations effectively.
On the streets, opinions are divided. Seema Salgaonkar, a mother from Taleigao whose son was mauled last year, says the ban is “long overdue.” For her, the question is one of safety, not sentiment. “No child should go through what mine did,” she says. “The government must act strongly.” Meanwhile, dog trainer Sameer Kamat believes the law is a starting point but stresses that real change will only come with education. “Training, socialization, and accountability are key. A dog doesn’t choose to be aggressive—humans shape its behavior,” he says.
Local councillor Tariq Sheikh from Ponda, where the toddler was killed, believes stray dog control is equally—if not more—urgent. “The fear here is not about Pitbulls. It’s about dog packs that roam the streets unchecked,” he says. He calls for state-supported shelters, sterilization drives, and stricter garbage control to keep strays in check.
As Goa prepares to debate the bill, one thing is clear: public sentiment is shifting. From urban Panaji to quiet villages in Bardez and Salcete, the call for safer public spaces is growing louder. The government’s decision to ban dangerous dog breeds is seen by many as a first step—but only a first step.
Whether this legislation becomes a turning point or just another headline will depend on how it’s implemented. Without robust enforcement, public education, and comprehensive stray dog management, the ban risks becoming a symbolic gesture rather than a transformative solution. For now, though, the families who’ve lost children and the communities living in fear can take solace in knowing that their stories are finally forcing change—one law at a time.
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Box1:
Dog Attack Incidents That Shook Goa
* August 2024, Anjuna: 7-year-old Prabhas Kalangutkar killed by Pitbull.
* August 2023, Taleigao: Two siblings, aged 5 and 7, mauled by Rottweiler; grievous injuries.
* December 2023, Camurlim: 10-year-old girl attacked by Rottweiler while walking home.
* January 2025, Assagao: 40-year-old man bitten by Rottweiler near school.
* April 2025, Ponda: 21-month-old Anabiya Shaikh killed by stray dog pack.
Box 2
What People Are Saying
“No child should go through what mine did. We support the ban—but it must go hand in hand with stray dog control.”
— Seema Salgaonkar, Taleigao
“Banning breeds won’t help unless owners of all dogs understand proper care and restraint.”
— Dr. Nandita Borkar, Veterinarian
“We need shelters and sterilization drives. Otherwise, this law only scratches the surface.”
— Tariq Sheikh, Ponda councillor
“Any dog can be dangerous without training. Education and enforcement matter more than bans.”
— Sameer Kamat, Dog trainer
Box 3
People’s Safety Paramount: Minister Halarnkar
Animal Husbandry Minister Nilkanth Halarnkar, defending the government’s move, said:
“This law is not against dogs—it is for the safety of our people, especially children. After repeated attacks and deaths, we could not sit back and wait. The bill ensures dangerous breeds are tightly regulated, and owners are made fully accountable.”
Halarnkar further added that the government is working on a parallel action plan to address the stray dog menace, promising sterilization drives and improved coordination with local bodies.
