A Richardson family is on edge after two separate bobcat attacks on their dogs.
Their Yorkie, Dakota, was killed by a bobcat last year. On Tuesday morning, a bobcat came back.
This time what the owner did may have saved his dog's life.
David Dinsmore was watching his dogs in his backyard while drinking his coffee when a bobcat jumped over his six-foot fence.
Surveillance video recorded what happened. The bobcat saunters up and down the alley when something inside the fence catches his eye. Within 10 seconds, the bobcat snatches Dixie Belle and leaps back over.
Dinsmore chased in pursuit.
He jumped over the fence and followed the bobcat into a neighbor's yard, where it drops Dixie Belle.
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She's now being treated at a veterinary clinic.
"Right now we're worried about Dixie Belle. Not sure she's going to make it," Dinsmore said.
There have been multiple bobcat attacks in the Canyon Creek neighborhood, where Dinsmore lives.
He said Dixie Belle replaced his previous pet, Dakota, which died from a bobcat attack in February 2016.
Dinsmore has installed multiple fences around his home to keep out unwanted wildlife.
Because the bobcat seen on the surveillance video walked with a limp, it's believed to be the same animal that has attacked other pets in Richardson and Plano.
The bobcat may be focusing on easier food sources due to its injury, according to an email the city of Richardson sent to residents of the Canyon Creek.
Richardson Animal Services placed a trap near the location of Tuesday's attack.
Animal control experts recommend the following actions to avoid increased incidents with this and other nuisance animals:
- Avoid unintentionally feeding wildlife by securing garbage containers and storing domestic animal food inside;
- Do not feed wildlife;
- Place bird feeders well above an animal's reach;
- Keep pets confined to securely fenced areas and keep small pets in close proximity; (Keep in mind that coyotes can jump fences up to about six feet and bobcats can easily scale an eight-foot fence.)
- Keep all pets on a six-foot leash when in public areas; especially near creeks or wooded areas.
- If a bobcat enters your property, make it feel unwelcome by making loud noises, banging pans together, clapping your hands and yelling, spraying it with a garden hose, etc.
