An Irvine woman is speaking out after her dog was nearly killed in a coyote attack outside her home, highlighting ongoing concerns about urban wildlife encounters in Southern California.
Rachael Rennie, a professional dog caregiver, says she was taking her two dogs, Mishka and Rocky, out for a brief evening walk on Saturday when the terrifying incident unfolded just outside her Irvine residence.
“I keep my head on a swivel,” Rennie said, recalling her vigilance due to recent coyote sightings in the neighborhood. “I saw it across the street, staring right at us.”
Despite keeping both dogs leashed and attempting to scare off the animal by yelling and waving her arms, the coyote charged toward Rocky, her 5-year-old Schnauzer-Poodle mix.
“It grabbed him by the neck, pulled him out of his harness, and ran around the corner,” Rennie said. “I thought I had lost him.”
Fortunately, neighbors who heard the commotion rushed to her aid. They managed to chase the coyote and recover Rocky, who was injured but alive. “He was bleeding, but he was breathing,” she added.
Rennie rushed Rocky to a veterinarian, where he was treated for multiple injuries. The emotional toll, however, has been just as severe. “He’s the last thing I have from my dad,” she said. “So it was worth it, especially because he had a chance at a full recovery.”
To help cover the rising medical bills, Rennie has launched a GoFundMe campaign, and she’s now urging other pet owners to take extra precautions. “Just because you’re there, they’re not safe,” she said. “I’m buying coyote vests for my dogs.”
According to Steve Gonzalez, a spokesperson for the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, Rennie took the right steps by keeping her dogs leashed, attempting to scare the animal, and reporting the incident.
“These kinds of reports help us identify potential hotspots for coyote activity,” Gonzalez said. “If there’s a trend in a particular neighborhood, we’ll investigate.”
As of this week, Rocky is expected to make a full recovery. The attack has reignited calls for community awareness and preparedness amid increasing coyote encounters in residential areas.