Anyone who would leave their tiny Chihuahuas UNATTENDED OUTSIDE is NOT an animal lover. Any dog that looks conquerable to a raptor requires supervision outside. Just because a pet is too big to be carried away, doesn’t mean that a raptor won’t attack it and get what it can before it flies away.
Agree. Chihuahuas are advised not to come to the local dog park. Now my Standard Poodles, the two boys over 60 pounds, and Rufus, with lightning speed, would probably take the hawk out if it got close, but the little ones shouldn’t be in the open.
Last summer I saw a great horned owl make a low pass over my Jack Russell. Just getting a better look I guess.
Would they attack a 300 lb. Bull Mastiff?
I have a dog that eats coyotes for lunch. Raptors wouldn’t dare come near him.
We know of a Mexican eagle that patrols CA 76 through Oceanside/Vista. They eat doggies.
True!
I was out in the backyard with 4 Ibizans, 1 Dobermann and a Portuguese Podengo Medio.
The PPM was by the back fence sniffing at rabbit trails when I sensed something overhead.
It was a large bird, circling lazily, hard to see as it had the sun at its back.
I just watched it for a while and then realized it was getting much closer, very fast.
With horror, I realized it was a Golden Eagle entering a “dive” and aimed straight at my PPM who wasn’t even 20 feet away from me.
I emitted what can only be described as some primordial, universal alarm shriek and she instantly flattened to the ground and I ran to her and scooped her up on the run.
The other dogs had already gathered behind me on our flight to the safety of the porch.
The freaking eagle _just kept coming_.
It did not *care* that 5 other dogs and a human were between it and its intended prey...my PPM.
I could feel the pressure of its wings as it swooped right above my head.
“Attended” doesn’t mean -crap- if those damn huge things -really- want your pet.
So now, I not only ‘attend’ my dogs while outside, I do so with a rifle nearby.
If my little dog had run instead of hitting the deck, she’d be dead.
Thanks be to God that she did not.
I cannot outrun a diving eagle.
All of that notwithstanding, please do not allow your pets alone outside in areas where such things congregate and _be armed_.
*Just* your ‘eternal vigilance’ may *not* be enough.