Carlos Kleiber, 74; Brilliant, Reclusive Conductor. Carlos Kleiber, a conductor of tremendous mystique who had the uncanny ability to animate the smallest details in a piece of music yet whose personal elusiveness made him one of the most enigmatic stars of the classical music world, has died.
First of all, it's not illegal to kill a cat or a dog as it's an unfortunate reality for the ones who end up at the humane society or are put down due to illness. Animal cruelty however is illegal and most states have statutes w/ minimum punishments for those caught and convicted.
If the dog is owned or cared for by someone less than 18 years old, that minor's parents are probably legally liable in place of the minor. The dog-bite laws of some states say that explicitly. Some other states have laws that make parents responsible, to a limited extent, for damage their minor children cause.