Tirupur: Eight goats were found dead and six critically injured in a stray dog attack in Kenganayakanpalayam village in Tirupur South taluk near Muthalipalayam on Saturday morning.The incident was reported from a farm owned by Saraswathi, who owns over 30 goats. She had kept the animals in a shed at night. In the morning, eight goats were found dead and six were critically injured. Farmers said the injured animals were unlikely to survive for more than a few days. Officials from the animal husbandry department visited the spot, inspected the shed and held talks with affected farmer.With this latest incident the number of goats killed in stray dog attacks in the district has increased to 20 in just the past two days, triggering protests by farmers. In a similar attack in a village near Vellakovil on Thursday night, eight goats were killed by a pack of stray dogs and one was missing. Four goats which were injured died later.Meanwhile, P Velusamy, president, PAP water conservation association, said repeated petitions seeking action to control stray dogs has not yielded results, prompting farmers to meet the animal husbandry minister S Kamali on Saturday. They sought immediate compensation and urgent control measures. In their representation, farmers sought a permanent government order to ensure compensation for cattle losses until the stray dog menace is brought under control.Farmers also flagged inadequate relief, stating goats are valued between Rs 12,000 and Rs 30,000 in the market, while the existing compensation of Rs 6,000 was insufficient. They demanded the compensation be fixed at market value and disbursed without delay.Minister Kamali assured farmers that pending compensation would be released soon and future relief would be based on market value assessed by veterinary doctors. She also said she had taken up the issue with the district collector and pressed for steps to curb stray dog attacks.Velusamy said Tirupur district has nearly seven lakh goats and that attacks over the past three years have caused recurring losses. Farmers have also complained to police about stray dogs allegedly abandoned from urban areas in Kangayam and Vellakovil.
