Posted on 12/10/2006 7:17:27 AM PST by buccaneer81
Kid fights off hawk to save dog By Norman Miller/ Metrowest Daily News Sunday, December 10, 2006
Call it a case of suburbia red in tooth and claw. Young Chris Campo had to fight a wild beast for his puppy’s life on Friday when a red-tailed hawk tried to turn the Weston youngster’s Dachshund into dinner. But a well-placed kick by the courageous Campo to the hawk’s head freed 5-month-old Dimi, who quickly high-tailed it to safety. “I took the dog out to go to the bathroom and he started to run around like he was kind of scared,” said the 11-year-old Weston Middle School sixth-grader. “I felt a tug (on the leash) and I look back and a hawk was on the back of my dog, trying to eat him.” While the dog was yelping, Chris stepped on the bird’s wing, reared back and let loose with a kick at the hawk’s head, he said. The ravenous raptor did not let go at first and so hawk, dog and child started madly struggling until the dog broke loose. “I didn’t really think - I just turned around and kicked the bird,” he said. “My dog was being attacked.” Charles Campo said his son was outside their home for about 30 seconds when he heard the boy yell. “I go outside and there was this enormous red-tailed hawk,” said Charles Campo.“It was trying to carry the dog off, and my son wouldn’t let go and he fought off the hawk. My son was literally fighting a hawk. I was stunned.”
When I lived out in the country and owned Yorkshire Terriers I had to keep an eye out for hawks that were hunting. As soon as I spotted a hawk the dogs would be taken inside.
CHAPTER 131. INLAND FISHERIES AND GAME AND OTHER NATURAL RESOURCES
Chapter 131: Section 75A. Birds of prey
Section 75A. A person, unless he holds a special permit or license issued by the director, shall not hunt or have in his possession a bird of prey. No person shall take, molest, disturb, destroy or have in his possession the nest or eggs of any such bird, unless otherwise authorized by the director. For the purposes of this section, the term “bird of prey” shall mean and include any of the following birds:— eagle, osprey, hawk, owl, kite, falcon or vulture.
Couldn't find the penalty but in an uber liberal state like Mass, I'd bet it's hefty.
Your link goes to the Miami Herald.
Wonder where PETA stands on this. Do they take the side of the dog or hawk? I know they don't take the side of the kid.
Mr. Campo, you are officially disqualified as the protector of your family. You are now reduced to the role of merely commenting on Internet blogs and discussions as if you were a mensch.
Wow - that is one brave (or foolhardy) cat!
They were all just doing what comes natural. The bird was hunting, the dog was trying to run to safety and the boy was just protecting his dog. That said, in today's world, Dad and son need to learn that they don't have to go into details. Best not to use words like stepping and kicking around some people.
Could be because Weston is a tony western suburb of Broward County Florida, just north of the dungheap that used to be called Dade County and now styles itself Miami-Dade County, served by the fish-wrapper Miami Herald newspaper. The other bird cage liner is the Fort Lauderdale News and Sun-Sentinel.
A pair of red-tailed hawks nested across the road from my house this past summer. I hope they come back, as I like to watch them. Each evening they watched the back yard and seemed to be catching something, most likely grasshoppers. But, I must admit, a few years ago one tried to carry off a turkey decoy that a hunter friend was covering.
"the term “bird of prey” shall mean and include any of the following birds:— eagle, osprey, hawk, owl, kite, falcon or vulture."
A vulture is a bird of prey?
Only when they get really hungry.
I doubt an owl would mistake you for breakfast in any light, especially since they hunt as much by sound as sight.
More likely it was being territorial and trying to drive you off.
I have had owls do the same to me. Why this behavior is peculiar to owls I couldn’t say. Perhaps it is the urban environment.
I know I'll be flamed by the "keep your kitty inside" crowd but I've had two small Russian blues carried off by owls. They love to be out hunting at night, they love to climb and roost on top of cars in the street, and they are almost invisible (but not to owls) so the movement is all the owl sees. My only comfort is that the last thought each had on earth was "I can fly!!!!!"
I now have a very large light colored cat who hates the dark and is too clumsy to climb up on anything.
I think it had much more to do with the white toque bobbing along in the pre-dawn darkness, it just happened to be attached to something much larger. Anyway, that's my story and I'm sticking to it.
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