In Ascot Corner, in the Eastern Townships, the owner of a small dog was left quite frightened earlier in the week after her pet, a five-month-old Morkie, was attacked by a bird of prey early Monday evening.
The incident happened near the apartment building, which is in a wooded area. The owner, Liliane Bilodeau, is used to letting little Chanelle roam the family property with light supervision. She did it with her other 16-year-old dog, who died last June.
On Monday evening, the lady was alarmed by an unusual noise. On the doorstep, she saw that her little dog had been grabbed by a bird of prey before it left its prey and fled.
After the incident, little Chanelle was in very bad shape. There were four claw marks on his body, three on his stomach and one on his back. The Morkie was quickly transported to a veterinary clinic in Sherbrooke, which cared for him. According to Liliane Bilodeau, the team performed X-rays and made sure there was no fracture or perforation in the lungs.
Luckily, little Chanelle is doing better and is already home, but the owner is left scarred by the event. She urges pet owners to be vigilant.
According to some experts, the bird of prey could be a great horned owl, a nocturnal bird that belongs to the owl family.
“They don’t know the difference between domestic animals and wild animals. […] It is often the young birds of prey, the young birds born last spring, that sometimes have difficulties hunting in the winter. They are less experienced than adults,” explained Noémie Roy, director of the Godbout Birds of Prey Interpretation Center, who nonetheless wants to reassure, remembering that these incidents are isolated and occasional.
Birds of prey also rarely approach humans. The expert therefore goes there with this advice: “If you have an animal with you when you take it outside, tie it on a leash, stay close to it. The raptor is less likely to attack him at this time. There will be greater fear [de la part de l’oiseau].”