Terriers

The celebration was as much orchestrated as it was spontaneous. But after winning their first Citrus Belt League title in 24 years, Redlands High players were in no mood to complain. The Terriers exchanged mini-hugs and chants of "CBL, baby!" near the end of a 30-7 victory over Rialto that clinched the league title outright before about 5,000 at the University of Redlands. A few moments later, players dumped the liquid contents of a cooler on Coach Jim Walker.

Redlands High players sagged like deflated balloons on the sidelines Friday night after Rialto Eisenhower scored two touchdowns in a 24-second span late in the fourth quarter to take the lead for the first time. The Terriers were in double jeopardy when they got the ball back for one last chance later in the quarter because they had 44 seconds to move the ball 88 yards with a run-oriented offense.

A Sylmar man who was mauled by two pit bull terriers last year sued the city of Los Angeles on Friday for releasing the animals after earlier attacks on neighborhood animals. Attorney Jeff Zinder said the city knew the dogs were dangerous before they attacked his client, Acension Cervantes, 41, in February 2000. Zinder said the city should not have returned the dogs to their owners after earlier impoundments for vicious behavior.

A Sylmar man who was mauled by two pit bull terriers last year sued the city of Los Angeles on Friday for releasing the dogs after earlier attacks on neighborhood animals. Attorney Jeff Zinder said the city knew the dogs were dangerous before they attacked his client, Acension Cervantes, 41, in February 2000. "They were returned to their owners despite the fact that the dogs had exhibited vicious and dangerous propensities," Zinder said.

President-elect George W. Bush and his wife, Laura, have accepted from New Jersey Gov. Christine Todd Whitman an 11-week-old Scottish terrier who could become the next "first dog." The dog, black with a white spot on his neck, arrived Monday at the Washington hotel where Bush was staying as he held get-acquainted meetings and interviewed prospective members of his administration.

About 200 dog owners marched with their barking pets through Peru's capital to protest the killing of Venancio, a Staffordshire bull terrier shot to death by a man who said the dog bit his 11-year-old son on the right hand. The protesters said the dog was on a leash and away from the boy at the time of the shooting, and had only wanted to play with the child and his ball at the park where he was shot.

Have several boxes of Kleenex available while watching the DVD of "My Dog Skip" ($25), the sentimental family film based on Willie Morris' best-selling novel about his boyhood dog. Frankie Muniz of "Malcolm in the Middle," Enzo the Jack Russell terrier, Kevin Bacon and Diane Lane star in this sleeper hit from earlier this year.

The last line of defense came up with a first-rate effort for Redlands High in the Southern Section Division V final at Belmont Plaza Pool. Redlands goalie Camille Clarendon made 16 saves in an 8-7 victory against top-seeded J.W. North and never allowed the Huskies to pull even. Helped along by Clarendon's six saves in the first quarter, the Terriers raced to a 4-0 lead in the first 3:57. J.W.

As he struggled with his one free arm to fend off the relentless attack of two pit bull terriers, Acension Cervantez didn't think he would survive. But as he lay face down with his strength ebbing, the dogs inexplicably walked away, leaving the nurseryman alone, his body bloodied, his scalp torn open, his left ear ripped off. "I didn't think I'd come out of it alive," the 40-year-old immigrant said Thursday, from his Sylmar home, where the father of three is recuperating.

As he struggled with his one free arm to fend off the relentless attack of two pit bull terriers, Acension Cervantez didn't think he would survive. But as he lay face down with his strength ebbing, the dogs inexplicably walked away, leaving the nurseryman alone, his body bloodied, his scalp torn open, his left ear ripped off. "I didn't think I'd come out of it alive," the 40-year-old immigrant said Thursday, from his Sylmar home, where the father of three is recuperating.