01-10-2018, 09:52 AM
saw these stories on how aggressive Owls can be towards Dawgs:
Pet dog killed in owl attack, family says
By: Ellen Eldridge, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
8:55 p.m Tuesday, Jan. 9, 2018 Atlanta News
A family is devastated after an owl killed their pet dog, a Yorkie named Freedom, Channel 2 Action News reported.
“There were puncture wounds all over his back and his chest and it was an owl attack,” Serrita Holt said.
The McDonough-based family told the news station they’ve seen all manner of wildlife but never expected to lose their 5-year-old furry family member this way.
![[Image: yorkie.JPG]](http://www.ajc.com/rf/image_large/Pub/p9/AJC/2018/01/09/Images/yorkie.JPG)
A Yorkie named Freedom was killed by an owl. (Photo Credit: Channel 2 Action News)
While Adam Betuel with the Atlanta Audubon Society said owls rarely attack small dogs, that’s what the Holt family said they saw on Dec. 23.
"Freedom came running from the driveway area toward my son and the door and it was blood all over him, Serrita Holt told Channel 2.
Despite surgery and medical attention, Freedom died the next day. Everyone was sad, especially the Holts’ third-grade daughter.
“They become part of your family, so it’s so devastating, especially with young children,” Josh Holt said.
A similar attack was reported last week in Cobb County, where a 71-year-old woman was knocked down when an owl swooped for her dog. Fortunately, the woman’s dog survived.
Betuel said young owls that are fighting to survive their first year may be more prone to attack, but a small dog would pose a serious threat to an average 2- to 4-pound owl.
“They’re hungry, they’ve had this cold snap, they’re a young bird and they might make the mistake of going after a pet,” Betuel said.
The Holt family now wants to warn their neighbors to stay vigilant and keep their pets close to them on a leash.
They’ve since added a new Yorkie to their family, named “Liberty.”
Cobb woman, 71, says owl knocked her over and attacked her dog
by: Ben Brasch, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
5:30 p.m Tuesday, Jan. 2, 2018 Cobb County
![[Image: owlattack_566x354.jpg]](http://www.ajc.com/rf/image_large/Pub/p9/AJC/2018/01/02/Images/owlattack_566x354.jpg)
(Photo Credit: Channel 2 Action News) A Cobb County woman said an owl attacked one of her dogs.
A Cobb County woman is afraid to let her dogs outside after one was attacked by an owl, she told Channel 2 Action News.
Deborah Johnson said she had let her two dachshunds out Saturday about 10 p.m. when the bird swooped in at Gabe, the larger of the two dogs.
“For a few seconds there, I did not know what was going on,” said Johnson, who lives off Post Oak Tritt Road.
The 71-year-old woman said she tried to get the owl off Gabe.
“As soon as I touched the owl, he got on me,” she told WSB-TV.
Johnson said she was knocked down and tussled with the owl, which she said had grabbed the heel of her shoe. She thinks it went on for 20 seconds before it flew off.
“I was kicking as hard as I could,” Johnson said.
The arm she fell on is sore, but both her dogs are fine, she said. Johnson just wants folks to be mindful of owls.
“Don’t underestimate what those animals (Owls) can do with those dogs,” she said.
Pet dog killed in owl attack, family says
By: Ellen Eldridge, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
8:55 p.m Tuesday, Jan. 9, 2018 Atlanta News
A family is devastated after an owl killed their pet dog, a Yorkie named Freedom, Channel 2 Action News reported.
“There were puncture wounds all over his back and his chest and it was an owl attack,” Serrita Holt said.
The McDonough-based family told the news station they’ve seen all manner of wildlife but never expected to lose their 5-year-old furry family member this way.
A Yorkie named Freedom was killed by an owl. (Photo Credit: Channel 2 Action News)
While Adam Betuel with the Atlanta Audubon Society said owls rarely attack small dogs, that’s what the Holt family said they saw on Dec. 23.
"Freedom came running from the driveway area toward my son and the door and it was blood all over him, Serrita Holt told Channel 2.
Despite surgery and medical attention, Freedom died the next day. Everyone was sad, especially the Holts’ third-grade daughter.
“They become part of your family, so it’s so devastating, especially with young children,” Josh Holt said.
A similar attack was reported last week in Cobb County, where a 71-year-old woman was knocked down when an owl swooped for her dog. Fortunately, the woman’s dog survived.
Betuel said young owls that are fighting to survive their first year may be more prone to attack, but a small dog would pose a serious threat to an average 2- to 4-pound owl.
“They’re hungry, they’ve had this cold snap, they’re a young bird and they might make the mistake of going after a pet,” Betuel said.
The Holt family now wants to warn their neighbors to stay vigilant and keep their pets close to them on a leash.
They’ve since added a new Yorkie to their family, named “Liberty.”
Cobb woman, 71, says owl knocked her over and attacked her dog
by: Ben Brasch, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
5:30 p.m Tuesday, Jan. 2, 2018 Cobb County
(Photo Credit: Channel 2 Action News) A Cobb County woman said an owl attacked one of her dogs.
A Cobb County woman is afraid to let her dogs outside after one was attacked by an owl, she told Channel 2 Action News.
Deborah Johnson said she had let her two dachshunds out Saturday about 10 p.m. when the bird swooped in at Gabe, the larger of the two dogs.
“For a few seconds there, I did not know what was going on,” said Johnson, who lives off Post Oak Tritt Road.
The 71-year-old woman said she tried to get the owl off Gabe.
“As soon as I touched the owl, he got on me,” she told WSB-TV.
Johnson said she was knocked down and tussled with the owl, which she said had grabbed the heel of her shoe. She thinks it went on for 20 seconds before it flew off.
“I was kicking as hard as I could,” Johnson said.
The arm she fell on is sore, but both her dogs are fine, she said. Johnson just wants folks to be mindful of owls.
“Don’t underestimate what those animals (Owls) can do with those dogs,” she said.