A Mountlake Terrace family is issuing a warning to other pet owners after their dog was attacked by a coyote. Signs of missing pets are now appearing in the neighborhood.
KIRO 7 spoke to 11-year-old Archie's owners, Lisa and Jeff Lenhack.
About 30 seconds later, Jeff said he heard his dog crying for help.
Late Friday night, the owners said Jeff let the two dogs out of the house to run some errands.
“It felt mind-boggling,” he said. “I was really surprised.”
He continued, “I heard a loud scream. Then I looked over and there were two coyotes. One jumped on Archie and the other was standing on the right side. I got their attention. I started running towards it, screaming.”
Jeff said he spotted the coyote in his front yard, near his mailbox.
Lisa said a coyote bit Archie while he was restraining his dog.
“I was surprised that they were on top of my dog,” Jeff said.
In KIRO 7, Archie had two deep cuts on either side of his body.
“As soon as I saw him, I was shocked,” Lisa said. “He turned white.”
She continued: So this is a deep stab. Bruises. He had bite marks on his front legs. There was a small cut above his eye and he was bleeding. ”
This isn't the first tragic moment for Archie. Lisa said their dog was shot twice in the care of its previous owner. The bullet is still in his body.
Lisa credits her husband with saving the dog's life. Jeff was able to scare the coyote away by standing tall and yelling, she said. The coyotes ran away and stared back at Jeff, about 100 feet away.
“He (Archie) ran into the house and ran into the doghouse and was kind of hiding there,” Jeff said. “When we finally pulled him out we could see he was bleeding pretty badly on one side and was shaking nervously.”
“It (coyote) could have taken either of these dogs,” Lisa said.
The Lenhacks are now warning other pet owners to take precautions to keep their beloved pets safe.
“It can happen to you, too,” Jeff said. “When you see the signs on the side of the road, when you see animals going missing, it's happening and you have to be careful and be careful.”
“They (missing pet signs) are suddenly rising. These missing pet signs. If we don't know what's going to happen or why he won't come back, we think it's us. ” said Lisa. “When people don't know the coyotes are there and we rush them out because we know they'll be back soon, the coyotes are lurking in the bushes and trying to get them. There may be.”
she continued. “From now on, they (dogs) will always be on a leash. It's too scary.”
neighbor:
KIRO 7 also spoke with several neighbors after the attack, including Justin Kizial, who has lived in the neighborhood for 21 years.
“There's definitely an increase in coyotes,” he said. “Right now, sometimes in the middle of the night, I look out my window and see a coyote walking in the middle of the road. I saw one a couple of months ago. I thought it was a big dog. I thought it was a wolf or a coyote. ,I thought.”
Kizial said he was also concerned about young children in the area, as there is an elementary school nearby.
“It's crazy to think that the dog you saw running across the road might not be there anymore when you wake up tomorrow and hear about it,” he said. “It's sad to think about it. If you're not careful, it could be your animal or your little child.”
He continued: I feel bad for the people who have other animals because I know there are a lot of people here who have animals. ”
Missing pet sign:
KIRO 7 also saw four pet signs missing from the Mountlake Terrace area where Archie was attacked.
Neighbors said they've started seeing signs of missing pets in the area, along with more coyote sightings.
We spoke to Jack Walkley, who is looking for his 10-month-old dog Nami to adopt.
According to him, Nami went missing on January 25, two weeks after he and his wife took him in.
He said a wildlife camera set up on Mount Lake Terrace spotted the coyote while searching for his furry loved one.
“It's definitely discouraging,” he said. “We're just trying to find where our dog is. So, it's ideal to know that there are natural obstacles to finding your dog, but also potential predators.” That's not the case. Some people were concerned because they saw coyotes in the area while they were putting up signs.”
Walkley said his dog has white fur with brown or tan spots and blue and brown eyes.
If you see Nami, please email Walkley at jack.walkley@live.com.
Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife:
KIRO 7 spoke with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife to learn more about coyotes and how pet owners can protect their beloved friends.
The agency says coyotes can be found throughout much of Washington state, from scrub grasslands to alpine areas, as well as in many urban and suburban areas. However, they are common in wooded green spaces and parks within cities such as Seattle and Spokane.
The agency says coyotes are most active at night and during the early morning and evening hours.
This animal eats a variety of foods, including rabbits, small rodents, garbage, bird seed, fruit, moles, and more.
However, if humans feed coyotes (though this is highly discouraged), the coyotes can quickly lose their natural fear of humans and become aggressive.
If you encounter a coyote, instead of running away, people are encouraged to stand tall, look it in the eye, and yell.
“You can also throw something,” the agency said. “If a coyote approaches, make loud noises, wave a stick, spray with a hose, or otherwise “haze” the coyote. This “humane hazing” helps re-establish the coyote's natural fear of humans. ”
However, February through July is considered “puppy season,” so coyotes may not be so scary.
Coyotes fiercely protect their dens. If the coyote does not respond to the “hazing” and appears to be becoming increasingly agitated, officials recommend that people quietly move away without turning their backs on the coyote and maintain eye contact with the coyote.
The agency also encourages homeowners to install “a 5-foot woven wire fence with extensions facing outward at the top of each post to prevent coyotes from climbing.”
It also recommends burying fences at least 8 inches deep, as coyotes can easily dig under them.
Click here to learn more about how to protect your loved ones and pets.
