The dog apparently fell into an open manhole in a private, unfinished development called Quail Valley. The manhole cover was found at the bottom of the hill. Early city speculation centered on a deliberate act, but Dixon speculated that teenagers may have opened the manhole as a prank and that the dog's entry was an accident.

"I suspect the dog was out running and fell in the hole," he said. "We're fortunate it wasn't a child."

The city paid more than $27,000 to Alma and Jeanne Richman, who experienced the most damage and the largest losses.

"They hauled everything out of our basement," Jeanne Richman said. "We had to get a new furnace and new water heater and a new shower."

The Richmans didn't get everything they wanted, but they are happy with the city's response, though they'll never get over some of the loss.

"What I felt bad about is all my Christmas decorations were ruined," Jeanne Richman said. "I told my children I didn't want to get a Christmas tree last year, because I didn't want to cry in my soup. I didn't want to start over."

---

E-mail: twalch@desnews.com