The ruling prompted a outburst from an owner, who threatened to ''burn down the houses and smash the cars'' of the people who spoke out about her dogs.

Mira and Aaron Sarlija last week lost their second appeal against a decision not to issue them dangerous dog licences for their beloved Stripe and Kayla. The seven-year-old Staffordshire German-Shepherd crosses were linked to the deaths of four animals - three cats and a dog - in Fisher in the space of three months.

In July ACT Civil and Administrative Tribunal senior member Jann Lennard was satisfied the pair killed cats Sugar and Mummy, as well as Maltese Shih Tzu cross Brandy on April 2. She upheld the decision not to grant a licence, and last week appeal president Bill Stefaniak dismissed the Sarlijas appeal.

The decision paves the way for Domestic Animal Services to put the pair down. But they remain in the care of authorities, as their owners have several weeks to lodge an appeal in the ACT Supreme Court.

Sugar, Mummy and Brandy were killed in their own backyards.

Ms Lennard said it was also likely Stripe and Kayla were involved in other attacks in the Fisher area.

They were also implicated in the death of one cat and the injuring of another in February. In statements to the tribunal - some made anonymously out of concern for neighbourhood reprisals - residents spoke of a climate of fear in Fisher.

Mummy's owner wrote: ''Knowledge that these dogs may be returned to the owners scares us all. We will never be able to let Sam, our cat, play outside again. We will never be able to let my grandson play outside again.''

Domestic Animal Services deemed the pair dangerous dogs and refused to grant licences to keep them. The Sarlijas fought the decision in the tribunal, arguing they would take steps to secure their yard so the dogs could not escape.

In September a follow-up inspection found the dog owners had taken steps to dog-proof the yard, but more work needed to be done.

In the tribunal hearings, the pair painted a picture of a strong bond between them and the dogs, sisters from the same litter who had always lived with them. ''It is quite clear Aaron and Mira love their dogs very much,'' Ms Lennard wrote.

''However, this case is not a test of how much the dogs are loved.''

When the senior member upheld the decision not to issue a licence, Mira Sarlija launched into an abusive tirade, threatening to ''burn down the houses and smash the cars'' of the people who complained.

Ms Lennard said her outburst was unacceptable and ''served only to underline and confirm [the tribunal's] assessment of her reliability''.