BOILING SPRINGS, S.C. (WSPA) – An Upstate woman said she rushed to her fenced backyard after she heard her dog scream.
“I’ve had her since she was a puppy, and not knowing originally what happened, I was absolutely terrified,” said dog owner Delenah Calvert. “So, we took her to the emergency vet, and she had the wounds they said were indicative of a coyote attack.”
Calvert said she knew there was a pack of coyotes prowling around her Boiling Springs neighborhood but never suspected they would attack in broad daylight.
“You can hear them like every night, but we’ve never had one come out in the middle of the day,” said Calvert. “It was literally, about 1pm, like it was the middle of the day on Sunday.”
The South Carolina Department of Natural Resources said coyotes are most active right before dusk until just after dawn.
“Coyotes that consume a significant proportion of human-related food items are more likely to become habituated toward people and cause negative interactions,” said the SCDNR. “These food items include pet food, garbage and discarded food scraps. Neighborhoods should encourage feeding pets indoors as well as the proper disposal of all trash. Food items used for composting should be placed in sealed or
closed bins.”