Update On Dog Attacked By West Hollywood Hawk

What would you do if you discovered your beloved pet being attacked by a wild animal? For Brody’s owner, the quick action to scare off the attack of a West Hollywood hawk may have saved Brody’s life (see Dog Attacked by Hawk Survives To Bark Another Day).  Fortunately, Brody’s wounds have healed and he is back to his former feisty ways. Brody’s owner recently gave me an update on my cute, canine patient’s progress: “Brody and the Alva family wanted to thank you for the excellent care you gave him. He has fully recovered, and he's back to chasing grass flies and playing with his toys.  His hair has grown back and we can’t even find a scar! He still barks at every bird that lands in our yard. You did an excellent job on the story and the whole Alva family thanks you!” Brody is not the only dog in recent news that survived attack by a bird of prey.  MSNBC reported the tale of Poppy, a Chihuahua, being plucked out of his South Carolina backyard by a large feathered foe. Poppy’s concerned parents spent a sleepless night fearing for the worst, but Poppy returned home the next day with superficial wounds and has made a full recovery. Unfortunately, not all news of pet confrontation with wildlife has a happy ending.  This past fall, Jessica Simpson’s poor pooch, Daisy, was snatched up by a coyote near Ms. Simpson’s Encino home and was never seen again (see Jessica Simpson's Dog, Daisy, Missing After Coyote Attack). Help to prevent your pet from suffering injury, or even death, from animal attack by taking the following steps: Keep your pet inside unless a responsible adult is outside overseeing the pet’s care. Avoid walking your dog at dawn, dusk or when poor lighting can disguise a wild animal’s approach. Walk your dog on a short lead instead of a retractable lead.  A wild animal is less inclined to approach a person and more likely to attack a dog walking considerable distance from their owner. If you live in an area home to wild animals, place appropriate fencing around your property to prevent the entry of unwanted wildlife and install motion-activated lights. Do not leave pet or other foods outside in the yard to reduce likelihood an animal will enter your property to scavenge. Keep trash in sturdy containers with locking lids.  Attach trash containers to stable upright objects (fence, etc) to prevent toppling. I am so happy to hear that Brody has made a full return to health and wish him many days of energetic play free from wildlife trauma.