Hundreds of stray dogs were found dead in villages across Telangana and the trail led back to the gram panchayat elections. But what triggered this sudden wave of deaths, and who stood to gain? As India grapples with a growing stray dog crisis, the issue has already reached the Supreme Court. While animal welfare groups push for vaccination, sterilisation and enforcement of existing laws, fear over dog attacks continues to shape public opinion. Brut Journalist Vaishnavi breaks down what unfolded in Telangana, why the crisis has deepened nationwide, and how countries like Bhutan, Turkey and the Netherlands managed their stray dog populations without resorting to extreme measures.