Marylin Christian knows her neighbors German Shepherd, Lucky, was responsible for killing her cat Cody last summer and she has the DNA evidence to prove it.
Christian, who found her mauled cat near a tree at her Lovettsville, Va., home, sought scientific proof to implicate Lucky after her initial attempts to declare the dog dangerous were unsuccessful, according to the Washington Post.
But it is unlikely that Christian will get the justice that she wants. County authorities told her that the DNA results would not be accepted in court because the saliva and hair samples used for the tests were not collected by officers. Without a witness, said Loudoun County animal control and care director Thomas Koenig, there would be no case.
Luckys owners, Sean and Janet Daryabeygi, cooperated with Christian when she came to them for a saliva sample, but say that their neighbor is overlooking the natural enmity between dogs and cats, the Post said. The couple sent a letter offering their condolences, and installed a fence to keep Lucky enclosed.
Nevertheless, Christian feels that her four other cats and 1-year-old son would not be safe with Lucky nearby.
Posted: Jan. 19, 2006, 3 p.m. EST