Coyote attack at dog park sparks concern, warning from pet owner

A London pet owner is warning others after his dog was attacked by a coyote inside a city dog park.

Luna, a three-year-old Scott American Bulldog, is recovering following a visit to the vet, but other dog owners must be aware of what happened so they can protect their own pets, said Luna's owner Keaton Uitterdyk

"I don't want dogs to get hurt, especially at the dog park. They're going to be running around. You don't always have visibility of them. if it was a smaller dog, who knows what would have happened," Uitterdyk said.

Luna was peacefully grazing on some grass in the Stoney Creek Off-Leash Area on Adealaide Street on the evening of June 26, when what initially looked like another dog approached Luna from behind and bit her hind leg.

"I ran at the [coyote], screaming like a madman, trying to scare it off, because I don't want it to hurt my dog or my girlfriend's dog," Uitterdyk said.

After successfully scaring off the coyote and bringing Luna to safety, Uitterdyk noticed a deep puncture wound from the coyote's teeth on Luna's hind leg.

Following the attack, he said, he made a call to city hall's animal control service. Officials would take note of the incident, Uitterdyk said, but more should be done.

"It would just be nice if they could maybe search the area, or take action to relocate [the coyotes] or something," Uitterdyk said, especially given the coyote's proximity to the off-leash dog park.

The City of London says it's aware of the incident and animal control officers were at the park to investigate the perimeter for any way the coyote could've gotten through the fence.

All fencing was intact when they investigated, the city's manager of animal welfare, Wade Jeffey, wrote in a statement.

"When incidents like this occur, the city consults with Coyote Watch Canada to assess the situation and provide guidance," Jeffery said.

The initial shock of the incident has subsided, and Uitterdyk's family is warning other pet owners to be vigilant, so their dogs aren't also attacked.

It's a warning other pet owners seem aware of. After Uitterdyk's mother made a post in a local social media group warning others and recounting the incident, dozens of people shared their surprise and concern, with some sharing anecdotes about encounters they had themselves.

Uitterdyk said it's unlikely he'll be returning to the dog park the attack happened in any time soon.

"It's nice to be able to have some freedom to be able to run around without having to worry about [dogs] running onto the street or going into private property. It's in a contained space. It should be a safe environment for dogs."

Encounters with coyotes like the one Luna had are rare, Jeffery said in his statement. Roughly two to three reports of physical contact between coyotes and dogs happen annually, and there are between four and five reports of aggressive interactions that don't involve physical contact.

The city says it's important for residents to report "concerning wildlife behaviour".

To report coyote encounters, the City asks residents to contact Coyote Watch Canada at (905) 931-2610 and submit sightings online at www.london.ca. For sick or injured wildlife, including coyotes, residents can contact London Animal Care Centre at (519) 685-1330.

Despite the concern he feels surrounding the situation, ultimately, the most important thing is that Luna is safe and happy, Uitterdyk said.

"She doesn't really like the cone on her neck. She keeps running into things. It's pretty funny, but she she seems happy. She's good."