Coyote attacks Lakewood family dogs

Coyote attacks Lakewood family dogs
September 06, 2009 22:58 PM

LAKEWOOD - Mike Craven and his family never thought they needed to be concerned with coyotes, after all in 13 years of living in same home near Jewell Street and South Estes, they've never seen one.

"I know a lot of times we get busy with our lives and we say oh it won't happen to us, it won't happen to me," said Craven.

He was wrong. It was around 10 p.m. Thursday night when he realized it.

"A friend of mine was here and was kind of petting Rocky and he pulled his hands away and there was lots of blood and that's when we knew we had a problem," said Craven of his 9-year-old Shitzu.

Craven believes the coyote spotted Rocky in his backyard and jumped the family's fence to get at the dog. "I always thought that because I had multiple animals, we have three little dogs, that they wouldn't want to take on a one on three situation," he said.

The family has a fenced in backyard, and the dogs are able to come and go out of a doggie door. Craven believes Rocky was outside by himself when the coyote attacked. Oliver, a 6 year-old Shitzu-mix ran out to help and ended up with a bite mark to his chest. Rocky was rushed to the emergency room, and was later put down because of the severity of his injuries.

"Historically we know there have been coyotes going after pets in rural areas, but the metro area has definitely seen an increase so this incident is sadly a reminder we're still facing this issue in Colorado and we're facing it even in residential areas we're people typically aren't used to seeing coyotes," said Jennifer Churchill, spokesperson for the Division of Wildlife.

Churchill says wildlife officials have been on a campaign for the last year to inform people of the increasing number of conflicts between people and coyotes and animals and coyotes.

"Right now, until these coyotes get scared of people again and go back to that natural fear of man we need people to make sure they are not leaving their pets unattended," said Churchill.

Craven says he regrets not thinking a coyote could be a danger to his animals, and now he's taking precaution.

"It's a good investment to go into the backyard with your dogs, take a moment go out there watch them do their thing and play with them and go back," he said.

p. 1/1

- Trial starting in ice cream crash that killed 3
- Clearing skies mean icy morning commute