Good-Bye, Mikey


By C.V. Beck

My very good boy, 24 pounds, orange tabby, age about 10, was killed by a dog or dogs on Tuesday, June 13, 2006 at about 5 pm. These dog(s) were off-leash although the owners apparently were nearby, indulging themselves in permitting their animals to run, hunt, quest in a pack of two.


Mikey was minding his own business, catching some rays in the backyard, was cornered in the carport area. He had his throat ripped out and internal injuries caused by large teeth. I found him lying there around 6 pm, covered in dirt and lawn clippings with his collar nearby and signs of a struggle in the debris. I find it almost unbelievable that he should have been killed such a short time after I wrote the piece in the June issue of this paper regarding certain irresponsible, hostile and aggressive dog owners who are taking advantage of the unstable, irregular situation at Lincoln Place (Mike’s home since 2002).

As is usual at Lincoln Place, and Venice in general, words fail me and I am struck dumb.

A neighbor reported hearing a scream around 5 pm which “stopped his heart”; I heard nothing. This neighbor reported seeing the same day, around the same time, two neighbors walking two white-ish retriever-like dogs in the “maintenance alley”, and letting them go off-leash there. People don’t seem to realize that their beloved dog, out of sight for a few moments only, can kill or injure a cat and then run back to their masters, with only a drop of two of blood on their lips, and happy as clams. The owners remain blissfully unaware of what has just happened to someone else’s pet and remain convinced they are doing a good thing, walking their dog(s).

This event is a clear example of why we have leash laws and I would like this leash law to be enforced more. I wish people would make the effort to take their dogs to the dog park – I don’t understand why this is too much trouble. I also believe there is room to make a dog park at the western end of the Penmar Golf Course, (where the culvert is) and this could be wrapped around the northern edge of the course without too much trouble.

Good-bye, Mike. I’m sorry I had a moment of inattention. You were a majestic cat and a handsome boy and I loved you very much. Susan, Frieda, Marcia, Ingrid, Barbara, Judy and Peter loved you, too. No doubt there were others who you charmed and I have been told you are in a better place now.

Posted: Sat - July 1, 2006 at 03:15 AM          


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