Coyote ugly: Boozer the brave little terrier lives to tell the tale after being savaged by wild beast as it roamed his neighborhood
- An Illinois couple's small dog survived a coyote attack Wednesday morning
- The terrier was attacked in its backyard in Northfield, just above Chicago
- Vicky Barnaby ran out of the house screaming and chased off the wild animal
- The frightening ordeal was caught on the family's home surveillance camera
An Illinois couple's small dog was lucky to survive a vicious coyote attack in his own backyard, just north of Chicago early Wednesday morning.
Vicky Dinges had let her cairn terrier named Boozer outside their home in Northfield for less than a minute when the coyote attacked, the Chicago Tribune reported.
Boozer got away with a bloody eye, a deep gash in his head and other injuries, but both he and his owners were pretty shaken up over the whole ordeal.
Vicky Dinges had let her cairn terrier named Boozer outside their home in Northfield for less than a minute before it was attacked by a coyote in Northfield, Chicago on Wednesday
Boozer the terrier got away with a bloody eye, a deep gash in his head and other injuries
The terrier didn't seem to notice the coyote quickly approaching at first, as he sniffed at the snow-covered ground; The coyote also appeared startled to see the terrier
"He was shaking, I was shaking," Dinges said. "It could have been so much worse.
The Dinges family's outdoor surveillance camera captured the attack, which lasted for less than 30 seconds.
The terrier didn't seem to notice the coyote quickly approaching at first, as he sniffed at the snow-covered ground.
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The coyote appeared startled to see the terrier, as it jerked away twice before going in for the attack on the house pet.
Once the coyote had its jaws sunk into the head of the terrier, it dragged him across the lawn and flipped his body from side to side.
In the span of seconds, the coyote had the terrier pinned down near a wooden fence bordering the Dinges' backyard.
Once the coyote had its jaws sunk into the head of the terrier, it dragged him across the lawn and flipped his body from side to side
That was when Vicky Dinges ran out of the house, apparently screaming, toward the two animals.
The coyote took off in the opposite direction and Boozer jumped up right away, running back to where his owner had come out of the house.
The Illinois Department of Natural Resources website says that coyotes "are not likely to cause problems," despite common misconceptions to the contrary.
In the span of seconds, the coyote had the terrier pinned down near a wooden fence bordering the Dinges' backyard
While individual coyotes may sometimes kill or injure domestic pets, young livestock, or poultry, these incidents are typically preventable by removing resources that might attract coyotes.
Northfield police Chief William Lustig warns Illinois residents to never leave pet or human food in containers outside, to always store trash in tightly sealed containers, and to refrain from feeding birds, as the feed can attract other wildlife that coyotes prey upon.
"Some coyotes become accustomed to human activity and may approach close to buildings, people, or pets," the Illinois Department of Natural Resources site adds.
"Cats and small dogs should be observed closely and placed in fenced areas (yards, kennels) when coyotes are known to be present."
As Vicky Dinges ran out of the house, apparently screaming, the coyote took off in the opposite direction and Boozer jumped up right away, running back to his home
The Illinois Department of Natural Resources website says that coyotes "are not likely to cause problems," despite common misconceptions to the contrary
After watching the video, Chris Anchor, chief wildlife biologist of the Forest Preserve District of Cook County, described the incident to the Chicago Tribune as a “defensive attack.”
"If the coyote had wanted to kill that small dog, the dog would have been dead within seconds," he said.
The coyote was likely defending its territory during its reproductive season, Anchor said.
Lustig told the Tribune that while the police department does not provide coyote trapping services, it is working closely with the Illinois Department of Natural Resources to monitor the situation.
Boozer was treated and given staples for his injuries, and was back at home resting Wednesday afternoon, said Barnaby Dinges, Vicky’s husband.
"I think he’s going to be fine," Barnaby Dinges said.
Boozer went into his crate on his own after he got home, but still appeared shaken, Barnaby Dinges said.
The brave pooch has been part of the Dinges family for 14 years.
"If the coyote had wanted to kill that small dog, the dog would have been dead within seconds," said Chris Anchor, chief wildlife biologist of the Forest Preserve District of Cook Co.
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