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Pooch scooped up by cougar survives
Canadian Press
June 28, 2001 17:30:00
PORT ALBERNI, B.C. - The Heberts family figured they had seen the last of their pet dog when Frank, their one-year-old chihuahua, was scooped up by a cougar. But Frank came home.
The Heberts were unpacking from a weekend camping trip when Frank and the family's other dog Bear were chasing wild rabbits in the yard. Suddenly, Terry Heberts and her children heard a scream from the dog and looked up to see a cougar dashing into the bush with a limp Frank in its mouth.
"The cougar scooped the chihuahua up and carried him off," Heberts said.
Bear, Frank's much larger companion, chased the cougar but to no avail.
The family called a local cougar hunter, Heberts said, who told them the cougar could be expected to bury its prey and return for it in two or three days.
The hunter made plans to come to their home Tuesday evening when they thought the cat might be back in the area.
Instead, when Bear went outside Tuesday morning, his ears pricked up and he started whining, Heberts said.
When Heberts called for Frank, the chihuahua's cries grew louder, and after a 20-minute search through the bush, they found the dog, injured but alive.
"Normally when cougars attack an animal, they kill it," said conservation officer Ralph Escott.
"They kill with the initial attack. Bite it, snap it, and incapacitate it. They consume part of it right away and bury it. Of course in the case of a chihuahua, there isn't much there to eat."
Frank is bruised and suffered a punctured lung and other internal injuries, but he is expected to recover.
Hugo Lambrechts, Frank's veterinarian, said he has sewn up a lot of dogs after cougar attacks.
"There's always huge holes." But there were no bite marks on Frank.
"Cougar teeth usually leave pretty good holes that would snap something like a chihuahua in half."
Heberts and Lambrechts both figured the cat was old and had dulled teeth.
If the dog had passed out, the cougar may have mistaken it for being dead, and either left him in the bush or only partially buried him.
Canadian Press
June 28, 2001 17:30:00
PORT ALBERNI, B.C. - The Heberts family figured they had seen the last of their pet dog when Frank, their one-year-old chihuahua, was scooped up by a cougar. But Frank came home.
The Heberts were unpacking from a weekend camping trip when Frank and the family's other dog Bear were chasing wild rabbits in the yard. Suddenly, Terry Heberts and her children heard a scream from the dog and looked up to see a cougar dashing into the bush with a limp Frank in its mouth.
"The cougar scooped the chihuahua up and carried him off," Heberts said.
Bear, Frank's much larger companion, chased the cougar but to no avail.
The family called a local cougar hunter, Heberts said, who told them the cougar could be expected to bury its prey and return for it in two or three days.
The hunter made plans to come to their home Tuesday evening when they thought the cat might be back in the area.
Instead, when Bear went outside Tuesday morning, his ears pricked up and he started whining, Heberts said.
When Heberts called for Frank, the chihuahua's cries grew louder, and after a 20-minute search through the bush, they found the dog, injured but alive.
"Normally when cougars attack an animal, they kill it," said conservation officer Ralph Escott.
"They kill with the initial attack. Bite it, snap it, and incapacitate it. They consume part of it right away and bury it. Of course in the case of a chihuahua, there isn't much there to eat."
Frank is bruised and suffered a punctured lung and other internal injuries, but he is expected to recover.
Hugo Lambrechts, Frank's veterinarian, said he has sewn up a lot of dogs after cougar attacks.
"There's always huge holes." But there were no bite marks on Frank.
"Cougar teeth usually leave pretty good holes that would snap something like a chihuahua in half."
Heberts and Lambrechts both figured the cat was old and had dulled teeth.
If the dog had passed out, the cougar may have mistaken it for being dead, and either left him in the bush or only partially buried him.