A family in La Verne, California is thankful their dog is alive after it was viciously attacked by a mountain lion.
Steve and Nicole, owners of a 3-year-old black giant schnauzer named Holly Jolly, spoke to KTLA about the incident, which was caught on a home surveillance camera.
“We heard a scream and my husband said, ‘Is that Holly?’ and I said, ‘No, I think it’s television,’ and he said, ‘No, I think it’s Holly,'” Nicole explained in an interview that was released Monday.
It didn’t take long for the couple to agree that the crying wasn’t coming from their television, but from their backyard.
They began yelling at the wild animal just enough to scare it off, allowing Holly Jolly to break free and run to safety.
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“As soon as I heard how fierce the battle was, I thought there was no way,” Steve said. “I thought it was a skunk or something that she was just messing with, so I went in and grabbed the gun.”
The intruder disappeared after Steve retrieved his firearm, however it returned approximately 20 minutes later. KTLA noted that the cat may have been returning to finish off its wounded prey.
A picture of a cougar, cougar or mountain lion. DeAgostini/Getty
La Verne is located in Los Angeles County.
Steve and Nicole told the news station that while wildlife such as bears, coyotes, rattlesnakes and mountain lions are known to frequent the area, they have never seen a cougar come close to their home.
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Holly Jolly’s owners rushed her to the vet, where she was treated for puncture wounds, scratches and an injury that required stitches. She is recovering well and is happy to feel the love of her family.
“She enjoys all the extra love, all the extra treats, all the extra attention,” Nicole told KTLA. “She likes it right now.”
Still shocked that the incident happened, the couple now hopes their neighbors in the Mountain Springs gated community will keep an eye on the big cat so no pets or people get hurt.
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Picture of a mountain lion warning sign.
Getty
“We wanted to let all our neighbors know that this thing was out there and that it was brave enough to jump into the yard and attack a dog almost the same size,” Steve said.
He added that from now on, when Holly Jolly goes out in the evening to use the toilet in their yard, he will be by her side.
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According to the National Park Service, if you ever come face-to-face with a mountain lion, you should never run away from it because it “can trigger the mountain lion’s chase instinct.”
Instead, they advise never turning away from a wild animal and try to “appear larger by raising your arms and opening your jacket if you’re wearing one”.
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Source: HIS Education