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Published on 08/12/1996 All articles from this issue

Rottweilers euthanized after killing 2 cats, owner faces charges

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By Joanne Griffith Domingue / Town Crier Staff Writer

Two Rottweilers, who went on a rampage in Los Altos and killed two cats Aug. 5, were euthanized Aug. 6, Los Altos police said.

"It was such a horrible thing," said Solana Drive resident Liz Beard who saw the dogs kill her neighbor's cat, Muffin. "The violence was awful. It could have been a child."

Beard was cat-sitting for Muffin while her neighbors were on vacation. "I put a cat bed outside for her. She was curled up in the cat bed sound asleep when I heard a huge thunk. It shook the house."

She looked out and saw "two enormous Rottweilers" on her front porch playing with something that looked like a "dog toy.

"It was Muffin. It was horrible. My son banged on the window with a towel to scare away the dogs. I ran out and scooped up Muffin, and she died in my arms." The dogs broke the cat's back.

Beard called 9-1-1 at 4:06 p.m. and reported that the dogs had killed the cat.

A few minutes later a resident in the 600 block of Casita Way also called 9-1-1 and reported two dogs had killed another cat, said Los Altos Police Sgt. Bob Lacey.

Police chased the dogs to the 300 block of Marich Way where the rampaging Rottweilers attacked a dog.

Palo Alto Animal Control came and caught the Rottweilers, big dogs that can weigh from 80 to 120 pounds, said an agency spokeswoman.

The next morning, after talking with the owner, the dogs were put to sleep.

City Attorney Bob Booth said he plans to file criminal charges against the owner, a 59-year-old Los Altos woman. The owner will be charged with one count of violating the city's leash law and three counts of owning vicious dogs. Penalties carry a maximum of six months in jail and/or a $1,000 fine.

Meanwhile, Beard had to place the difficult phone call to her neighbors who were vacationing on the East coast and tell them about Muffin.

"They wanted Muffin buried in their front yard. So that's what I did," Beard said.