THE issue of dog attacks is nothing short of a public health and safety crisis in India today. While  stray dog attacks have reached epidemic levels, pet dog attacks are also occurring at a worrisome rate, revealing irresponsible and dangerously negligent owners. As the Supreme Court tackles the vexatious matter of stray dog attacks, it is equally important to address the growing menace of pet dog attacks.

The most important aspect is to understand the causes of dog aggression. If the reason was simply hunger, no pet dog would ever bite. But we know that even the most well-cared for, well-fed dogs can and do bite. Dogs are descended from wolves and display aggression for a variety of reasons – territoriality, diseases, predatory reflexes, lack of early socialization, individual temperament, sexual/litter aggression, lack of training, inbreeding, pack mentality, medical issues, etc.