At least five coyotes circled a stray dog in a residential neighborhood in Orange County earlier this month, but the dog managed to survive the 45-minute attack.
Amazing footage captured the dog fending off the coyotes on May 6 in a Brea home’s driveway.
According to the homeowner, it occurred on Huntley Circle close to the 57 freeway at approximately 5:40 a.m.
In the video, a young Labrador mix who was wandering the neighborhood uncollared is surrounded and attacked by multiple coyotes. Until the homeowner noticed a coyote outside his garage, the attack appeared to have gone unnoticed.
Steve Shatynski said, “I pounded on [the window] as my garage door opened. About five or six coyotes appeared from different directions and headed up our hill. The puppy headed up the hill amongst the group.”
In the hopes that someone would recognize the dog and take it home, Shatynski shared the video. According to Shatynski, the dog was later spotted exploring the neighborhood for two more days and even made a comeback to his house.
After a fruitless attempt to tame the dog, Shatynski called the Brea police for assistance. After they made arrangements with Orange County Animal Care, a private trapper eventually came to pick up the dog and take it to a nearby shelter.
According to Shatynski, the dog’s listing on the OC Animal Care website has since been taken down. It’s unclear if the dog was adopted by someone else or reunited with its owner.
The dog appeared to be unharmed by the attack, as far as Shatynski could tell. The dog is seen in the video defending itself, driving the coyotes away, and pulling back when needed to prevent mauling.
Since coyotes are always present in the area, pet owners are advised to exercise caution in light of the attack.
Residents cannot always rely on their pets to warn them of dangers, according to Shatynski, who said the dog had only barked once or twice prior to the attack and no other noises were heard.
Animal control officials warn residents not to leave pets outside unattended, especially overnight or around dawn when coyotes are most active, as coyote sightings are becoming more common throughout the region.
In order to discourage wildlife, residents are also urged to use motion-activated lights and remove food sources like pet food and fallen fruit.
To keep neighborhoods safe, authorities are still urging residents to share information and report sightings.
To learn more about minimizing conflicts between humans and coyotes, go to the website of the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.
