MONSTERQUEST: The Real Cujo

History Channel -- Original Air Date: 7/23/09

Packs of feral dogs are roaming parts of the US, including areas of Detroit, MI, and East St. Louis, IL.  This show brings together eyewitness stories (as usual), opinionated scientists, and "monster hunters" to try and determine how much of a threat these packs may pose to human beings.  The MQ team catches a feral dog and attaches a camera to it to follow its movements and learn about the pack. Others set up stationary cameras to track pack movements, too.  One scientist suggests that breeding dogs for (illegal) fighting and then releasing them, when no longer useful, may be making feral packs more aggressive.  The show features a number of stories about people in urban and rural areas being killed by packs of wild dogs.  After a few unsuccessful attempts, the camera on the dog reveals the pack's daily wanderings -- mostly foraging through wooded areas.  Genetic tests prove that the feral dogs have some traits of pit bulls and German shepherds -- both powerful and potentially aggressive dogs.  However, the packs seem to mostly avoid human contact, which one scientist compares to typical wolf behavior.  For once, MQ has caught its subject in a clear and convincing manner, but whether these packs are "monsters"...?  I guess it depends on how broad you make the definition.  (At least the show gave me a good idea for a horror story.)