Colorado man fights mountain lion to save dog from attack



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A Colorado man took action to save his dog’s life, fighting with a mountain lion who had attacked his pet.

Gene Whannel of Estes Park told FOX31 in Denver that he used to encounter wildlife in his backyard, which borders public lands. But when he took Sadie, his 9-year-old boxer, early last week, they encountered a mountain lion who nearly killed the dog.

Whannel scanned the hill near his property with a flashlight, looking for the predator’s eye reflection, before letting Sadie let go of her leash. But he knew something was wrong when he heard his dog moan.

A Colorado man took action to save his dog's life, fighting with a mountain lion who had attacked his pet.  (iStock)

A Colorado man took action to save his dog’s life, fighting with a mountain lion who had attacked his pet. (iStock)

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“I got the light on her, I saw she was in a wrestling match with something,” he told FOX31. “From a distance I couldn’t tell what it was, but I suspected a mountain lion.”

He was right and was looking for a rock or a stick that he could use to fight the animal. All he found was a small wooden property marker, according to the report.

“I took this, I hit the mountain lion once and it kind of hit me in the eye,” Whannel told the TV station. “I took another blow and hit him in the face. Then the mountain lion released Sadie and ran the other way.

Colorado Parks and Wildlife advises residents of mountain lion country to avoid walking the animals between dusk and dawn, keep animals on a leash, and do not leave them unattended.

Colorado Parks and Wildlife advises residents of mountain lion country to avoid walking the animals between dusk and dawn, keep animals on a leash, and do not leave them unattended.
(iStock)

Sadie lost one eye in the attack and received more than 70 stitches during a three-hour surgery, according to the report.

“Considering what she’s been through, she’s doing really well,” Whannel told FOX31.

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Not all pets that meet a mountain lion are so lucky. Days later, a mountain lion killed another dog in the same town, according to another FOX31 report.

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“Although mountain lion attacks on dogs in Estes Park don’t happen often, Estes Park is mountain lion country and these incidents can happen,” Colorado Parks and Wildlife spokesperson said, Jason Clay, on TV.

In order to protect pets, Colorado Parks and Wildlife advises residents to avoid walking animals between dusk and dawn, keep animals on a leash, accompany them in the yard, and not leave them without. surveillance.

Whannel told FOX31 that he wants other pet owners in the area to be aware of the danger.

“I will never let Sadie go out into the yard off leash,” he said.

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