Pet owners are warned to keep their pets inside at dusk, dawn, and overnight to protect them from wild animals. However, in one California city, wild animals are finding their way inside residents' homes. Buena Park homeowners are seeing more coyotes entering through doggie doors and attacking family dogs. In a 2019 interview with KCAL9 News, homeowner Scott Goodling explained that the coyotes were growing in numbers and becoming more brazen.
Goodling said a coyote entered his house through the doggie door and attacked one of his dogs, Murphy. The other dog was carried away and killed. Murphy is in rough shape, but this dog has survived two attacks. During the interview, Goodling explains that this is an ongoing problem—and it seems to be getting worse.
Many areas in California see more wildlife coming into their cities, especially after wildfire season. Their natural habitats get stripped of resources, so they go looking elsewhere. Homeowners need to be aware of their surroundings at all times while walking their dogs. Of course, some areas have bigger animals to be concerned with, like bears and mountain lions, but this is a great PSA for all of us.
Granted, an influx of wildlife can be frustrating for many pet owners, especially when they just want to keep their pets safe. Keeping doors shut and not letting your animals out by themselves is the best way to protect them. However, there are a few products you can use as a precaution. One popular product is called the CoyoteVest. The Kevlar bulletproof vest fits snugly around the dog, complete with spikes to deter predators. The vest goes up around the neck to avoid the predator shaking the pet, and the "whiskers" replicate porcupine spikes.
The coyote wouldn't dare attack the pet with bristles going up its nose and into its eyes, and CoyoteVest guarantees it. The company also makes a variety of accessories you can buy for the vest, including the Coyote Zapper, which sends an electrical shock down the vest when the coyote bites the dog, and the Coyote Collar, which is essentially a spiked collar.
Most importantly, keep your doors secure when you're not home and keep an eye on your pets at all times!
How do you keep your pets safe? Let us know on our Wide Open Pets Facebook page!
This post was originally published on July 16, 2019.
