Mountain Lion Caught on Camera Attacking Family's Beloved Giant Schnauzer
We can't imagine the horror that one man felt when he walked outside his La Verne, California home and saw his Giant Schnauzer in peril. The pup, named Holly Jolly, had been pinned by a mountain lion that somehow managed to get into their yard. And it was up to her owner, Steve, and his wife, Nicole, to help.
The owners explained that the incident happened at around 9 pm on February 10 when Holly went out for her evening bathroom break before turning in for the night.
Holly's owner Nicole told ABC 7 NY that their Ring camera caught the whole scary incident. Nicole said 3-year-old Holly was sniffing around when the mountain lion approached her and attacked.
Related: Hiker's Video of Mountain Lion Watching Him on a Trail Serves As an Important Reminder
As a video obtained by ABC 7 LA shows, the two seemed to square off before Holly tried to flee. Sadly, the 93-pound Giant Schnauzer was no match for the animal, who quickly overtook her and bit down into her neck. The two rolled around on the ground as Holly fought to free herself.
Meanwhile, Nicole and Steve heard the commotion outside and were concerned. The Schnauzer had released a series of cries.
"We heard a yelping and my husband said, ‘Is that Holly?'" Nicole, who asked that their last name not be shared, recalled to the New York Post.
"I said, 'No, I think that’s the television,' and he said, 'No, I think that’s Holly,'" she added.
Steve went outside to investigate, which is when he saw Holly and the mountain lion. Steve and Nichole worked together to try and scare the mountain lion away with loud noises.
"As soon as I heard how fierce the battle was, I was like there’s no way," Steve said. "I was imagining like a skunk or something back here that she was just messing with, so then I went in and grabbed a gun."
It appears that Steve never had to use it. The noises that he and Nichole made were enough to startle the mountain lion, allowing Holly to get free.
In total the whole thing took minutes. It was the first time a mountain lion had come that close to their family. Holly was rushed to the veterinarian, where she was treated for puncture wounds, scratches, and an injury that required stitches.
"She did have surgery. She had a lot of puncture wounds, many stitches," Nicole told ABC 7 NY. "They said there was just a lot."
Video shows that 20 minutes after the incident, the mountain lion returned to their yard and was seen on camera sniffing Holly's collar. The big cat eventually left.
Holly is now home and she is recovering.
"She’s enjoying all the extra love, all the extra treats, all the extra attention," Nicole told the NY Post. "She’s loving it right now.”
The couple said they are sharing their story as a warning to other pet owners who could never imagine this happening to them.
"We wanted to let all of our neighbors know that this thing is out and bold enough to jump in yards and attack a dog almost the same size," Steve said.
"We're careful" Nichole told ABC 7 NY, "but I think we were always concerned about coyotes and other animals, but a mountain lion is a new beast for us," she added, "literally."
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