Members of the Elk Grove City Council apologized Wednesday night to residents whose complaint about a pit bull's fatal attack on a family pet was mishandled.
Pamela and Scott Mendoza complained to the Sacramento County grand jury about the city's slow and inadequate response after a pit bull broke through their backyard fence on Labor Day 2007 and killed their 15-year-old cat.
After the family called city animal services, the city mailed a complaint form. And, at a hearing six weeks later, the independent hearing officer and the dog's owner did not attend.
The Mendozas told council members Wednesday night that city staff failed to follow city procedures in "vicious or dangerous animal" incidents and gave evasive or wrong information. Those observations were echoed in the May grand jury findings.
The grand jury reported that the Mendozas were not informed that they could request a visit by city animal services. They were told by animal services that the pit bull could be euthanized or the owners would be required to construct a kennel or secondary fence to contain the animal.
But the pit bull was not given a behavioral assessment until two months after the attack. The dog owners paid a fine and were required to license the animal. But no further action was taken to contain the dog or require a secondary fence.
"My condolences for the loss of your pet," Councilman Pat Hume told the couple at the council meeting.
He said the council agrees with the grand jury findings and added, "We should have done a better job."
City Attorney Susan Cochran said the city already has implemented most of the grand jury recommendations.
