Members of the Elk Grove City Council apologized Wed- nesday 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 Lily.
The Mendozas told council members Wednesday night that city staff failed to follow city procedures in dangerous animal incidents and gave evasive or wrong information. Those observations were echoed in the May grand jury findings.
After the family called city animal services, the city mailed a complaint form. A hearing was set six weeks later, but an independent hearing officer and the dog's owner did not appear.
The grand jury report said that the Mendozas were not informed they could request a visit by city animal services.
They were told by animal services staff that after a behavioral assessment, the pit bull could be euthanized or the owners would be required to construct a kennel or secondary fence to contain the animal.
The pit bull was not assessed until two months after the attack. The dog's 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.
"We have lived in Elk Grove for 14 years," Pamela Mendoza told the council. "This past year has been misery."
Council members were supportive of the couple and apologetic.
"My condolences for the loss of your pet," Councilman Pat Hume said.
The council agrees with the grand jury findings, he said. "We should have done a better job."
Councilman Jim Cooper, who previously met with the Mendozas about the attack, said Pamela Mendoza "definitely opened up my eyes. If we had followed our rules in the first place, we wouldn't be here."
Mayor Gary Davis offered his own apologies.
"The goal is to make sure … it doesn't happen again," he said.
Pamela Mendoza told The Bee that 11-year-old Snookie, a feline companion to Lily, encountered the aftermath of the attack and, stressed, died two weeks later.
Both cats had been strays adopted by the couple when they were less than a year old.
The council voted unanimously to report to the grand jury that it supports its findings.
City Attorney Susan Cochran said the city previously implemented most of the grand jury recommendations.
She also is working on an animal control ordinance to replace the one the city inherited from Sacramento County when it incorporated in July 2000.
Councilwoman Sophia Scherman asked Cochran to involve the Mendozas in reviewing language of that new ordinance.
Call The Bee's Loretta Kalb, (916) 478-2641.
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