BANGALORE: In the midst of all the brouhaha about street dogs following the mauling to death of Manjunath and Sreedevi, one question is on everyone's mind: why did the street dogs, which usually bark and occasionally bite, turn feral enough to kill human children?

Civic authorities have been quick to blame illegal meat shops and dumping of offal in the garbage that is hardly ever cleared. The public has been quick to latch on to the theory that street dogs feeding on raw meat become ferocious and kill humans.

However, this line of thinking actually represents only part of the truth, T. Gopal, retired director of the Institute of Animal Health, told The Hindu .

The causes behind dogs turning aggressive are intricately linked. "As the city has grown, the availability of food has increased. So we see food waste being dumped at many places. In such areas, dogs start to form packs and roam around together."

When the dogs roam in groups, they become more powerful and develop a pack mentality. It is imperative that we stop street dogs forming packs, Animal Welfare Board Chairman R.M. Kharb told this correspondent. "If the leader of a pack, which is generally the most aggressive, attacks a person, then all the other dogs will follow suit."

Dr. Gopal says: "During breeding season, which is between the months of January and March, they move from one place to another and also become restless." It could turn into aggressive behaviour in exceptional instances and when they are provoked.

The city's poor infrastructure in terms of garbage collection has also compounded the problem. "It has provided a conducive environment to the dogs to thrive," Dr. Gopal said. The controversial Animal Birth Control (ABC) programme has also been not very effective as it is mostly the meek and slow ones that have been caught. "The programme, if it is implemented in a more methodical and phased manner, would be more effective."

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