California woman punched mountain lion in effort to save her dog

Miniature schnauzer was killed and its owner suffered a minor cut in attack in Simi Valley

A southern California woman punched a mountain lion and tried to pry its jaws open to save her dog from an attack in her backyard, but the pet was killed, officials said.

The woman suffered a minor cut after the mountain lion attacked her miniature schnauzer on Thursday in the city of Simi Valley, the police Sgt Keith Eisenhour told KNBC-TV.