The jurors chosen to determine the fate of two people charged with the gruesome dog-mauling death of Diane Whipple will have been quizzed extensively about their feelings toward dogs and their owners, according to Associated Press reports.

Superior Court Judge James Warren plans to give the questionnaire to hundreds of prospective jurors beginning Thursday.

Questioning of potential jurors in the trial of Robert Noel and Marjorie Knoller is scheduled to begin Feb. 5, with opening statements planned for Feb. 19.

Knoller is charged with second-degree murder, involuntary manslaughter and owning a vicious dog that caused harm in the Jan. 26, 2001, death of Diane Whipple. She faces up to 15 years in prison if convicted. Noel is charged with manslaughter and lesser charges that could bring up to four years in prison.

Deputy District Attorney Jim Hammer, who came from San Francisco to prosecute the case, said it could be a precedent-setting trial.

"There's never been a case in California of a murder conviction for a dog attack," said Hammer.

Whipple, 33, was ripped apart by one of the couple's two large presa canario dogs as she tried to enter her Pacific Heights apartment with her groceries. Her death so outraged San Francisco that the trial was moved to Los Angeles.

Knoller and Noel, both attorneys, have accused Whipple, a college lacrosse coach of provoking the attacks. They have portrayed the animals, which weighed 125 and 110 pounds, respectively, as blameless.

"The question is whether there was an extreme indifference to human life," said Loyola University law professor Laurie Levenson to AP.

Experts agree an unbiased jury will be tough to get. "The defense wants a jury of dog lovers," Levenson said.

• "Do you consider yourself a dog person, a cat person, both, neither?"
• "Have you ever owned a dog that was accused of being overly aggressive, dangerous, threatening or vicious?
• "Do you think the media makes too much of the threat or danger of pit bulls, Rottweilers, Dobermans, etc.?"