On New Year’s morning the Johnson family watched in horror as their toy poodle mix was being carried off into the near by woods by a coyote just outside of Hansville. Coyotes often see our domesticated pets as an easy target for their meals and with the human population taking over many areas where the coyotes would normally hunt it puts our pets at risk. Many coyotes are also known to come into populated areas due to the ease of food through our garbage and other means. Thankfully this little pouch will live to see another day thanks to the quick thinking of Greg Johnson, who helped the little dog escape.
The incident all started at about 8 a.m. when little dog, Daisy, was let out side to do her morning business. Greg says that the whole family was yelling and in shock. "I was pretty broke up," Johnson said. "The whole family was screaming." The Johnsons have other dogs as well and they seemed to know that something was near by. "They started screaming their cry that they do when coyotes are near," said Nicci Johnson.
As soon as Greg went outside he could see the coyote. "The coyote was leaning over Daisy and she looked absolutely dead, and I was furious. I was going right at him with nothing." The coyote didn’t stop its assault on little Daisy. “When coyote saw me coming after her, he picked her up," Greg Johnson said. "And here's her little limp body hanging out of the coyote's mouth and coyote takes off into the woods."
Although the Johnsons do not see themselves as the type to normally own guns, Greg had purchased a .22 to scare off the coyotes that frequent the area near the families waterfront home. Greg took the gun and ran to the area where he had seen the coyote go and started firing the gun to frighten them. "The bushes started to move and I thought it was the coyote coming back, so I watched, and it was Daisy" Greg said.
The little dog is ok but did not come out of this completely with out harm. She received a bit in her tiny neck and the coyotes teeth went through her throat. The Johnsons rushed Daisy to an animal hospital where she was treated. Thanks to the quick thinking of Greg, this little dog will be ok but the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife does say that this time of the year is typically when the coyotes come into the populated areas in search of food, so keep a close eye on your pets.
Want more from this writer?
Follow her on Twitter, join her Facebook fan page, or send her an email with your thoughts or story ideas heather.marseillan@gmail.com
Comments