Mountain Lion Kills Leashed Dog Out For Walk In Carmel Valley
CARMEL VALLEY (CBS SF) - A Monterey County woman who came face to face with a mountain lion and watched as the animal killed her dog is hoping that her tragedy will help others avoid a similar fate.
Patty Small took her dog Buster—an 18-pound Dachshund-Chihuahua mix—into her front yard in Carmel Valley shortly before midnight on Sunday.
The dog was on a leash and standing less than 3 feet away from its owner when a mountain lion seemed to appear from out of nowhere and attacked, Small said.
"He had my dog's head in his mouth," she said.
Out of instinct, Small said she reached out to grab Buster but the mountain lion swatted at her and ran away.
"My face was literally within 2 feet of this mountain lion's face," she said. "I'm lucky I didn't get struck."
Small said representatives from the California Department of Fish and Game responded to her home and from them she learned about past sightings in the area.
According to Small, a mountain lion had been spotted in the same area, near Carmel Valley Village, in broad daylight about a month before.
She said that if she'd heard about past sightings she would have been more vigilant and hopes that by spreading the word, others will avoid a similar attack.
"I'm heartbroken," she said. "I feel terrible that I couldn't save my dog."
From here on out, Small says she will be more vigilant and aware of her surroundings and is hoping others will do the same.
Information regarding mountain lions and tips on protecting pets can be found at www.dfg.ca.gov/keepmewild/lion.html.
(Copyright 2012 by CBS San Francisco and Bay City News Service. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
