Thursday, June 12, 2008

Don’t crouch to protect your dog from coyote attack

If your small dog is attacked by a coyote, don’t crouch down and shield your pet, a state wildlife official said.


Debra Berry, of Estero, who did that Sunday night, was bitten on her lower leg by the coyote and on the nose by her pet dachshund she was trying to protect, according to a report by Lt. Gregory Stanley, of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

The last thing people should do is to get on the coyote’s level or lower to try and protect their pets, said Gary Morse, a spokesman for the state wildlife agency.

“To a coyote, that is an act of submission,” Morse said.

Instead, people should pick up their pets and stand tall, because that is an act of dominance that coyotes understand, Morse said.

And, he said, people should carry golf clubs or walking sticks or canes to ward off coyote attacks.

In Sunday night’s attack, Berry was armed with a golf club, but didn’t use it, Stanley said.

Although Berry’s dachshund was saved, it was seriously injured and is recuperating at an animal hospital in Estero.

Berry was taken by ambulance to North Collier Hospital to be treated for the bites to her leg.

Three small dogs were killed by coyotes in Estero from March 6 through May 18.

Last week, a Shih Tzu mix was saved by its owner when the dog was attacked by a coyote.

Source: DENES HUSTY III • dhusty@news-press.com

Cheers!
Dorothy

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