WHO, OR WHAT, KILLED PAL? : THE SAY COYOTES DIDN'T DO IT.

Byline: Patrick McGreevy Daily News Staff Writer

The mystery over who - or what - skinned a pug named Pal deepened Friday with a councilman and the SPCA disputing a city veterinarian's report that blamed a coyote for the fatal injury.

Four private veterinarians, including two hired by the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, say an elderly and deaf Encino woman's pet was skinned alive by someone using a sharp knife.

``The findings are inconsistent with an animal attack. This is a savage act of cruelty,'' said Madeline Bernstein, executive director of the Los Angeles branch of the SPCA.

Horrified by the mutilation and death of Pal, PETsmart Inc. and the Little Angels Pug Rescue group have offered a $10,000 reward for information. Councilman Nate Holden said Friday he will ask the council to put up $5,000 more.

And at a news conference on the steps of City Hall, Holden called for an investigation of L.A. Animal Services, accusing it of ``simply trying to sweep this whole thing under the rug and avoid a time-consuming investigation by saying it was a coyote.''

Holden was joined by several animal-rights activists, including actresses Carol Kane and Christine Elise, who displayed pictures of Pal, who was found cowering under a bush, a saddle-size chunk of skin removed from his back, early Tuesday morning.

``I hope the Animal Regulation Board will be shamed and shocked,'' said Kane, standing next to photographs of the skinned dog. ``It is the most appalling, shocking thing that we've seen.''

Elise, who co-starred on the television show ``ER,'' added, ``The only worse crime I can think of than what was done to Pal is to let it go unpunished.''

The pug was found by his owner, who lives in the 16600 block of Morrison Street, after being put outside in his usual sleeping place the night before.

Animal Services director Gary Olsen said the dog lived in a habitat for coyotes, adjacent to the Santa Monica Mountains and Encino Reservoir.

``Coyotes may wander several miles in search of food and attack small dogs and cats,'' Olsen said in a statement by the city agency, adding that Pal's wounds were ``consistent with those usually inflicted by coyotes.''

But Michael Bell, the head of Citizens for a Humane Los Angeles, said the attack is not consistent with those by coyotes, who attack to eat and would have bitten into the flesh of the dog, not just ripped off its pelt.

Bell also said a coyote would have dragged the dog away, leaving a blood trail.

Northridge veterinarian Melvin Richkind, who initially treated Pal before the dog died, said he was sure the animal was not killed by a coyote. The SPCA backed his conclusions, based on two independent necropsy reports done for the organization by veterinarians Chris Cauble and Brad Brunskill.

Private veterinarian Paula Kislak told reporters Friday that she examined the dead pug, on behalf of Holden and Citizens for a Humane Los Angeles, and believes the mutilation was caused by a human.

``There is no way this was done by a coyote,'' said Kislak, who said the mutilation may be part of a satanic ritual.

Kislak and other vets said the skin was removed from the dog's back with a straight cut, indicating a sharp knife, not the jagged tears one would associate with a coyote attack. In addition, she said there were no puncture marks found to indicate a coyote bit the dog.

Finally, Kislak said, fibers from a nylon brush were found embedded in the exposed muscle tissue, indicating such an instrument was used to remove fat from the wound.

But the city's chief veterinarian and a private veterinarian hired by the city both concluded after necropsies that Pal was attacked by a coyote, said Peter Persic, a spokesman for the city agency.

The city veterinarian found multiple puncture wounds, skin tears and bruises, all of which indicate a coyote attack.

``We stand by the findings,'' Persic said Friday, adding that the department is keeping its investigation open and wants to see the necropsy reports of other veterinarians.

Persic disputed criticism targeting his agency, which investigated 6,000 cases of animal cruelty last year, saying, ``We take cruelty cases very seriously.''

He said animal issues often stir emotions in the activist community.

``For some people, their animals are as precious as their children and animal issues are very emotional,'' Persic said.

Kane, who starred in the long-running television comedy ``Taxi,'' acknowledged that her two pugs, George and Lola, are special to her.

``They are my heart,'' she said.

Kane said she has heard reports that two cats were skinned in the same area in the past week, but city and SPCA officials said they have received no reports of other incidents.

Kane praised Holden for introducing a motion, to be voted on by the council next week, to have the city put up a $5,000 reward to match $10,000 already put up by PETsmart and Little Angels Pug Rescue, a Pasadena-based group.

Holden's City Council colleagues had mixed reactions about offering a reward when the city's chief veterinarian said the attack was done by a coyote, not a human.

``If a coyote did it, no one would get the reward,'' said Councilman Joel Wachs, who indicated he might vote for the reward. ``There's no danger we would have to pay it, unless a coyote sues us. If the dog's DNA is found on the coyote, no one would get the reward.''

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Photo: (Color) Little Angels Pug Rescue members, from left, Sherrie Woodbury, Jodi Green and actress Carol Kane with their beloved pets.

David R. Crane/Daily News