Team Goemkarponn
PANAJI: The Goa Animal Federation (GAF) has stated that the number of stray dog bite incidents in the state has been greatly overstated. GAF president K.D. Row said a review of data from 2022 to 2025 identified only 372 confirmed cases of bites or scratches by stray dogs, in stark contrast to the 37,197 cases cited by the Union Health Minister in Parliament. Notably, no rabies cases were reported in Goa during this period.
Experts say the discrepancy arises from the way bite incidents are recorded. Dr. Rajendra Borkar, Superintendent of South Goa District Hospital, explained that each dose of rabies vaccine is counted as a separate “bite case.” Since patients typically receive five doses and hospital records do not specify the type of animal, reported numbers are exaggerated. After correcting for this, official records show 7,439 animal bite incidents over three years, mostly involving pet dogs, according to a 2023 Goa government report.
With an estimated 1.45 lakh stray dogs in Goa, only 0.002% were involved in biting or scratching incidents over three years. Experts stress that most stray dogs are non-aggressive, and inflated statistics could lead to unnecessary and inhumane measures.
Dr. Sachi Kudchadkar added that aggression in dogs is often triggered by hunger, mating, or prior mistreatment, and can be mitigated through regular feeding, sterilization, and community education. GAF urged strict adherence to the Animal Birth Control Rules to address stray dog population issues responsibly while safeguarding public safety.
