LARGO, Fla. (WFLA) — A nightmare scenario for any pet owner. A Largo woman says her dog is missing after a coyote attacked it and took it right out of her front yard.
It was a normal morning routine for Katrina Hoston and her 3-pound Yorkie, Tyson. Hoston took Tyson out in their front yard to relieve himself around 6:15 Saturday morning in Largo. Hidden under the car and the blanket of darkness was a coyote lurking and waiting.
“He timed it perfectly. as soon as he got there, he was there,” Hoston explained of the attack.
Hoston found herself in a tug of war with the coyote over the fate of Tyson. Sadly, for her dog of 8 years, the coyote won.
“I’m tussling, I’m pulling Tyson, I’m pulling and somehow I lost my footing right here. I fell,” said Hoston.
When she got back up, the coyote and Tyson were gone. To make things worse, Hoston didn’t see which way they went.
Hoston says she’s been searching for her dog since it happened. Including a stretch of land not far from her house on Somerset Dr.
With each passing day, she knows the likelihood of finding Tyson becomes less likely.
Hoston now hopes other dog owners learn from her mistake. The next time you walk your dog, do so in the safety of daylight.
“I replay this attack. That strike, like I didn’t see him. I didn’t hear him. I always scan before I come outside, and I don’t know where he came from,” Hoston said.
Pinellas County Animal Services says coyotes are more active around dusk, so consider walking your dog earlier in the day. Also, use a short leash instead of a retractable one for better control. Finally, carry something noisy, like an air horn, to scare away the coyotes.