Sandygirl

So sad. We lost our kitty to a coyote this fall. Fur tufts were all that remained.
Sandy

Retired Fire Chief

That is horrible, I've never heard of that happening here in Mid-Michigan but you never know, some people are so cruel. I only have big dogs and they are such babies they stay in the house which is a good thing because if anyone tried to steal them they would go willingly, goldens and labs are so darning loving and trusting they don't know strangers.

stitchinwitch

[COLOR="#FF0000"]OMG - My fence will be chain link, and there are gates all around - which I WILL be putting on a pad lock on each of them. So the rule is now for us, if they go out, I will be with them!..thanks for all your responses - it has opened my eyes....:-(/COLOR]

sparkys_mom

Yes, it does happen. I would never leave my dog outside unattended.

sparkys_mom

Good decision!!

madamekelly

I lost my much loved cat 'punkin head' to a large bird right in front of my eyes, when I lived in Tennessee, and my sister lost her mini dachshund the same way a couple months later. Never leave a small animal outside unsupervised!

margee

I've seen dogs , more pure breeds taken by drug addicts and then sold or traded for drugs. Also, sitting in the vet office a lady ran in with a small dog whose throat had been cut in her yard. I used to have a big dog that I ddn't worry about outside since she would protect herself. Now have a small dog and was sitting on patio and dog down by the four foot high chain link fence. Two people walking by in the alley. One was very tall and reached over the fence to the ground and petted my dog. She could have picked him right up but her friend stopped her. I never leave the animals , the dog out without watching him. I've seen too much. Also, had a six foot wooden fence and saw little dogs getting under them and out and people opening gates/ Locked my gate from the inside. Need to be careful. Some people are just mean or desperate.

lynnie

I've heard of it, I don't know if it is an urban legend around where I live. Brookhaven lab is only about 10 miles from us. I heard they kidnap healthy pets, that's why they don't get sickly street pets and do experiments on them. I live about 50 miles from Montauk Point, out past there a little ways is Plumb Island( it's not on any map ). a big center for disease control. I've heard they kidnap pets for there too. I don't know if it's true or not. also, kidnapping just for the sake of the ransom is not unheard of. Just keep an eye on them and if they start to bark, get moving fast. I have a kitty, she's indoors. I trained to know that Man Bear pig lives outside and eats kitties. all I have to do is yell MAN and she hides.

Rose_P

I know in this area there are coyotes, raccoons, owls, eagles and hawks, all of which can present a threat to small animals. Also, sometimes meter readers and others might leave a gate open. It always pays to be vigilant. We never leave a dog outside when we're away.

There are lots of signs for missing pets in our area. I suspect that the biggest threat is still that they will escape under a fence or through a broken board and will be hit by cars. There are people who have the horrible job of picking up dead animals from the roadways, and I suppose no record is ever kept of what they find.

Something else to keep in mind: We had a dog who had a life-threatening allergic reaction to a bee sting one time. If we had not known what was happening, we would have lost him.

JANICE E.

Yes I have heard of this. My Peke won't go in the back yard at night only in the day with me by his side. We have fox, raccoons bigger than my dog most are night hunters here. Fox all the time.