The Pit Bull Place

[Tonka]

http://cbs5.com/local/local_story_243214540.html

Aug 31, 2006 6:44 pm US/Pacific

Palo Alto Pit Bull Attacks, Kills Smaller Dog

Tony Russomanno
Reporting

....officials may have to put down a pit bull after it attacked and killed another dog this weekend.

Dog owners say little dogs often act like they're big, and big dogs are sometimes much less frightening than their appearance alone suggests. But when a small Maltese met three big pit bulls on a sidewalk this weekend, the result was tragic.

"One of the pit bulls kind of lunged at the small maltese. One giant bite. (It) grabbed the dog, bit it, and it died instantly," said Palo Alto police Sgt. Sandra Brown. "The other two pit bulls actually were cowering behind the owner. People want to assume that all three dogs mauled this 9-year-old Maltese, but it didn't occur that way."

Both dogs were on leashes, and both dog owners tried to pull their pets apart when the attack started, but the Maltese died instantly.

Police say the owners were not breaking any laws.

"They were doing everything right," Brown said. "We want to keep our animals safe by leashing them when they're walking so they're not running off into cars or not running off and startling other people."

The owners of both the pit bulls and the Maltese declined to comment Thursday.

The city's Animal Services department is investigating the attack and may order a Dangerous Dog hearing, after which the pit bull could be euthanized, Brown said.

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