Toronto man recounts coyote attack on his dog, expresses frustrations

A week aft Global News first reported connected coyote attacks connected dogs astatine Princess Margaret Park successful Etobicoke, residents proceed to travel guardant to definitive their interest complete nan ongoing issue.

There person been galore reports to nan City of Toronto concerning coyote attacks successful nan area.

Doug Youngson says he didn’t deliberation doubly astir stepping successful erstwhile his canine Kahlua was surrounded by a battalion of coyotes astatine nan parkland connected Canada Day.

Youngson says he, his woman and their 2 canines were retired for a locomotion astir 5 p.m. erstwhile they came face-to-face pinch aggregate coyotes.

“My woman said, ‘Look, there’s a coyote. Let’s go.’ I turned around, said, ‘OK, fine, let’s go,'” he recalled.

“As soon arsenic I turned around, location was different 1 there. I went ‘Oh my.’ There was different 1 here. I said, ‘We person a problem.'”

Then I turn, there’s different 1 here. I said ‘We person a problem.'”

Both dogs were connected leads, but while Mai Tai stopped connected command, Kahlua didn’t.

Youngson said he could perceive nan commotion unfolding successful nan wooded area of nan park. He soon discovered his canine successful nan grips of 1 of nan coyotes.

“The ample one, which is astir nan size of a beautiful bully German Shepherd, stepping distant pinch him successful his mouth,” he recalled. “I thought, ‘Oh my God. He’s dead.'”

Eventually, he was capable to scope his canine and rushed to get him to nan emergency veterinarian. His injuries were severe, and Youngson says aesculapian bills for Kahlua person totalled astir $20,000.

Speaking one-on-one pinch Global News, he acknowledges really fortunate they’ve been to beryllium capable to supply their canine pinch contiguous and continuous care, contempt nan cost. However, he says not each canine owners person that expertise and he fears what whitethorn hap adjacent if nan business isn’t brought nether control.

He says Kahlua sustained astatine slightest a twelve bites, including to his neck, thorax cavity and abdomen.

“It’s my dog. It’s portion of my family,” he says.

Kahlua underwent room and spent a week successful infirmary earlier being capable to travel home. Youngson and his woman opportunity they’re intimately monitoring his recovery.

Scars are still visible connected nan canine’s body, including a ample vertical room incision from his thorax to his abdomen.

Global News reached retired to nan City of Toronto for an question and reply to found clarity connected really it is addressing reports of coyote attacks successful nan area.

In an email statement, Animal Services head Dr. Esther Attard says, “The City of Toronto is alert of caller coyote attacks connected dogs successful Princess Margaret Park and proceed to activity to reside issues involving these coyotes successful nan area done acquisition and organization support.”

Over nan past week, aggregate signs person been installed by nan metropolis informing residents of nan coyotes’ beingness successful nan park. Caution portion has besides been placed astatine entrances to deter group from utilizing nan densely-forested area.

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According to nan city’s website, if you do brushwood a coyote, you should make yourself look ample and imposing. That includes opinionated upright, raising your arms successful nan air, and waving your jacket.

They besides counsel group to beryllium large and make sounds aliases noises to scare nan coyote away. That tin see blowing a whistle aliases aerial horn, stomping your feet, clapping your hands, aliases snapping unfastened a ample integrative aliases garbage bag.

It besides recommends being assertive, which tin see swinging a stepping instrumentality aliases cane, sparkling a flashlight connected nan coyote, aliases throwing a tennis shot aliases mini pebble successful its direction.

“Yeah, a instrumentality would beryllium awesome for 1 [coyote],” Youngson said. “You can’t do thing if location are six aliases seven.”

The metropolis tells Global News members of nan coyote family person been known to beryllium successful nan West Deane Park area for complete six years and it appears they precocious relocated to Princess Margaret Park. It’s chartless precisely why their behaviour towards dogs has turned aggressive.

In nan statement, Dr. Attard says “a assortment of factors are apt to beryllium contributing.”

When asked what immoderate of those factors include, Dr. Attard said large noises (such arsenic fireworks) and perceived threats to their young could perchance trigger a reaction. She added that feeding by residents whitethorn besides beryllium “blurring nan boundaries betwixt humans and wildlife.”

If you brushwood a coyote while stepping your dogs, nan metropolis is advising that you prime them up aliases support them connected a short leash and effort to get to a engaged area.

The connection goes connected to read, “While nan metropolis does its champion to support wildlife successful their earthy habitat, if animal behaviour changes successful a measurement that affects nationalist safety, nan City will return action aft assessing each options available.”