SPOKANE-- A Spokane pet owner says she is lucky her dog is alive after an owl swooped down and tried to snatch it.
It happened on Spokane’s South Hill in a new housing development near 51st and Crestline on Sunday.
A local veterinarian says this case is very rare.
The woman briefly brought her mini-pinscher outside to relive itself.
At the same time, an owl sat watching and waiting.
9-year-old Mary Lou only weighs 9 pounds.
Sarah Miller says she was stunned and couldn’t even believe what was happening.
Mary Lou was on the grass and Miller was to the side of her, then all of a sudden out of nowhere there was an owl on top of the dog.
Miller says she had been on the lookout for coyotes roaming around the neighborhood, but she never imagined an aerial assault on her dog.
Miller says the dog started screaming when it was attacked, that’s when Miller started to panic.
Miller suspects the owl may have been sitting on her roof.
She was outside for no longer than two minutes when the bird made a b-line for Mary Lou and started to carry her off.
Luckily, Miller had Mary Lou on a leash.
Miller ran at the owl and tried to kick it away, that’s when the bird flew off.
The dog was bleeding from her neck.
Miller wrapped her in a blanket and took her to the pet emergency clinic.
The next day, Miller’s vet, Dr. Chris Schneider, followed up on Mary Lou’s injuries.
She had puncture wounds to her shoulder and neck.
Dr. Schneider says in his 30 years of practice, he’s seen numerous pets attacked by owls, eagles, and coyotes, but never one that was attached to a leash.
Miller says she hasn’t seen the owl around since the attack.
Dr. Schneider cautions other pet owners this can happen again, but there’s no need to panic, just be aware.
