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Dog owners warned after coyote snatches toy poodle in Point Grey

Ellie the teacup toy poodle was snatched by a coyote on Saturday. Supplied

A Vancouver man is warning other pet owners after his small dog was snatched by a coyote on Saturday in his Point Grey neighbourhood.

David Gens said he was walking his five-and-a-half-year-old teacup poodle, Ellie, near Belmont Street and West 2nd Avenue around 1:30 p.m. when the incident happened.

“[It was] broad daylight. I was with a friend walking my dog. My dog was a little ways in front of us. She was in the middle of the street… and a coyote just came out and grabbed her and ran off,” he said.
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“[She] made a little yelp. I think she probably died right away. Me and my friend ran after it screaming and searched…. but we couldn’t find anything.”

The Stanley Park Ecology Society’s coyote sighting map lists several recent coyote sightings in the Jericho Beach area.

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Several social media users have also reported aggressive coyote behaviour in the Jericho/UBC area in recent weeks.

In a statement, the City of Vancouver told Global News it is aware of a coyote attacking a dog in the park on Nov. 13 and of multiple sightings of coyotes in the area.

“Our thoughts and sympathies are with the family during this time. Coyotes are controlled by the province and managed through the conservation office. Incidents can be reported through the BC RAPP (Report All Poachers and Polluters) line,” reads the statement.

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Gens said the whole thing happened so quickly, he barely had time to react. Ellie was off-leash at the time.

He said it was a painful lesson and that he hopes other dog owners take it to heart.

“You can’t live in total paranoia that your dog is going to be taken by a coyote any time anywhere, but it can happen,” he said.

“I certainly know that I will never let a small dog off the leash again after that experience.”

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