diff --git a/doc/fixes34.1 b/doc/fixes34.1
index 5450ab08f..2c5f8e78f 100644
--- a/doc/fixes34.1
+++ b/doc/fixes34.1
@@ -385,6 +385,7 @@ while waiting, don't try to change into were form when already in were form
 steed should remember traps encountered while mounted
 killing shopkeeper by throwing unpaid things would result in
 	"item not on bill" impossible error
+choking pet to death with cursed leash incurs various pet-killing penalties
 
 
 Platform- and/or Interface-Specific Fixes
diff --git a/src/apply.c b/src/apply.c
index 57f049366..64b462c5d 100644
--- a/src/apply.c
+++ b/src/apply.c
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-/*	SCCS Id: @(#)apply.c	3.4	2003/01/29	*/
+/*	SCCS Id: @(#)apply.c	3.4	2003/02/13	*/
 /* Copyright (c) Stichting Mathematisch Centrum, Amsterdam, 1985. */
 /* NetHack may be freely redistributed.  See license for details. */
 
@@ -542,18 +542,31 @@ register xchar x, y;
 	    }
 	    if (dist2(u.ux,u.uy,mtmp->mx,mtmp->my) >
 		    dist2(x,y,mtmp->mx,mtmp->my)) {
-		if (otmp->cursed && !breathless(mtmp->data)) {
-		    if (um_dist(mtmp->mx, mtmp->my, 5)) {
-			pline("%s chokes to death!", Monnam(mtmp));
-			mondied(mtmp);
-		    } else if (um_dist(mtmp->mx, mtmp->my, 3)) {
+		if (!um_dist(mtmp->mx, mtmp->my, 3)) {
+		    ;	/* still close enough */
+		} else if (otmp->cursed && !breathless(mtmp->data)) {
+		    if (um_dist(mtmp->mx, mtmp->my, 5) ||
+			    (mtmp->mhp -= rnd(2)) <= 0) {
+			long save_pacifism = u.uconduct.killer;
+
+			Your("leash chokes %s to death!", mon_nam(mtmp));
+			/* hero might not have intended to kill pet, but
+			   that's the result of his actions; gain experience,
+			   lose pacifism, take alignment and luck hit, make
+			   corpse less likely to remain tame after revival */
+			xkilled(mtmp, 0);	/* no "you kill it" message */
+			/* life-saving doesn't ordinarily reset this */
+			if (mtmp->mhp > 0) u.uconduct.killer = save_pacifism;
+		    } else {
 			pline("%s chokes on the leash!", Monnam(mtmp));
+			/* tameness eventually drops to 1 here (never 0) */
+			if (mtmp->mtame && rn2(mtmp->mtame)) mtmp->mtame--;
 		    }
 		} else {
 		    if (um_dist(mtmp->mx, mtmp->my, 5)) {
 			pline("%s leash snaps loose!", s_suffix(Monnam(mtmp)));
 			m_unleash(mtmp, FALSE);
-		    } else if (um_dist(mtmp->mx, mtmp->my, 3)) {
+		    } else {
 			You("pull on the leash.");
 			if (mtmp->data->msound != MS_SILENT)
 			    switch (rn2(3)) {