The wolf-dog that is at large in the community of Coombs on Vancouver Island has killed a dog, according to a worker at a local campground.
A Coombs Country Campground employee told Global News signage has been posted around the area warning community members, and especially pet owners, that the wolf-dog has killed a dog that lived at the campground.
The surrounding trails in the area have been closed.
“RCMP is currently working with animal control to capture the wolf-dog but has expressed the animal is very intelligent and has avoided capture for awhile,” one of the signs said.
According to the campground, RCMP has advised residents to keep cats indoors, keep dogs close on a leash, keep children close and never unattended, be aware of their surroundings while walking, and not approach the wolf-dog if seen.
The dog has been dubbed WD-40 by rescuers, WD for wolf-dog and 40 for oil as the animal is quite “slippery” to catch.
Global News talked to the killed dog’s owners, Sunday afternoon.
“(Saturday morning) around 9:30, I started off in the dog park, and I went down a trail,” Greg Salmon said.
“This wolf came out of nowhere, grabbed Ocean and ripped the leash out of my hand and broke my little finger. It spun me around and broke the leash, and by the time I could get up, the wolf had our puppy and was going in the other direction.
“I ran and ran and ran until I couldn’t run no more and I feel flat on my face.”
Salmon said he lost sight of the wolf-dog and his dog, Ocean, and went back to the camping ground to call the police.
After calling the police, Salmon and his partner Carolyn Marchilton then went back to the scene to look for their dog and found a pool of blood after following some tracks.
“The dog has a taste of blood, it is a wild animal. It is the responsibility of the conservation officers to protect the public from this wild dog that is killing … this has been going on for more than two months.”
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