Once I had a crazy neighbor who had driven her little yappy dog crazy too. While said crazy neighbor was talking to me, her dog bit my ankle and left slight bite marks. Crazy dog owner denied that it was her dog that had just bitten me while she was standing two feet away from me watching the whole thing.

So, OP, I feel your pain....

I hope you find your cat, I hope the said explorer dog gets a second chance with a competent owner.