Beloved cat put down after attack by 2 dogs

Less than 48 hours after two Healdsburg dogs attacked and almost ripped apart Mary Doll's cat Wuzzie, the 15-year-old feline had to be put down because his injuries were too severe, Doll said.

"What a horrible end for such a sweet soul," Doll said this week of the Feb. 7 attack. Since then, Doll, her neighbors and Healdsburg animal officials have been investigating the incident to identify the dogs involved.

"We have not found the dogs," Doll said Tuesday. "Now that they have experienced the thrill of catching prey, statistically they will do it again -- whose pet or child will be the next victim is unknown."

City animal officials said steps are being taken to address the incident. Staff are also focusing concerns on the wider issue of responsible pet ownership, said Julie Seal, executive director of the .

"Responsible pet ownership is crucial," Seal said. "Some dogs we see are almost feral -- they've never been on a leash and have had only minimal human contact."

Dogs that are treated like that, "if they get out, regardless of breed, they'll be a menace to the community," Seal said.

She and Healdsburg Animal Control Officer Ryan Pelleriti said they are planning added community education and outreach efforts. Pelleriti has already set up a regular program of visits to help pet owners, Seal said.

"What it really comes down to is owner management," Pelleriti said. "And it's us being out in the community being proactive with community members."

Meanwhile, police and animal control staff are doing more patrols from the north end of Terrace Boulevard to Parkland Farms Boulevard, near where the attack on Wuzzie took place, Pelleriti said.

"We've definitely stepped up a [law enforcement] presence in that area," Pelleriti  said. He said he interviewed two juvenile witnesses in an effort to identify the dogs, who apparently were running loose. 

Once the dogs are identified, Pelleriti said steps will  be taken to determine if they are classified as "vicious," and then to decide on a course of corrective action.

Doll's neighbor Marilyn Pozas, who has three dogs of her own and who said she loves animals, said she is feeling increasingly nervous.

"I truly do not feel safe any longer walking my dogs or even just walking in the street here in Healdsburg," Pozas said.  She said she thinks the dogs that attacked Wuzzie were pit bulls -- an allegation that has not been confirmed by city officials.

"We have too many pit bulls in this community," Pozas said. "Someone is going to get seriously hurt -- it's only a matter of time."

Pelleriti said there is no proof that the dogs in the attack were pit bulls -- and no reason in any case to blame a specific breed.

"It's easy for us as a society to target one breed," Pelleriti said.

Seal agreed, saying that bad treatment negatively affects any breed of dog.

She pointed to Num Num, a small white Corgi mix turned in to the shelter  by his owners last month. Num Num, who had been kept in the backyard with minimal human contact, was initially terrified by shelter staff.

"He wouldn't let anyone come near him," Seal said.

After a week, however, Num Num became affectionate and was calm and playful during a recent visit to the shelter.

"Dogs are pack animals," Seal said. "If they're not around other dogs, then you become their pack, and they want to be part of your family."

Doll, meanwhile, said she is not interested in targeting pit bulls. In fact, she said, she supports BAD RAP, an agency devoted to pit bull training and public education.

"I personally feel that not all pitbulls are bad, just as not all Golden Retrievers are good," she said.

Still, she said she grieves the loss of Wuzzie, who was sleeping in Doll's garden when the dogs found him and the attack occurred. Wuzzie, who had suffered abuse by neighbors in the past, came to Doll a few years ago and "found safety at my home, apparently," she said.

"He was the sweetest old guy--only a couple of teeth in his mouth," Doll said. "A little senile and gentle as a lamb."

People who want to report an animal running loose during business hours, which are Monday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.,  may call the Healdsburg Animal Shelter at 707-431-3386. After hours, they should call at 707-431-3377.