A couple in Woody Creek, Colorado, has urged pet owners in the area to remain vigilant after a pack of four coyotes attacked their 5-year-old dog, leaving him seriously wounded.
Fox31 KDVR reports the wild animals gained access to the Houston family’s home on Dec. 11 by jumping over the fence and making their way to the couple’s porch. Max — a Bali street dog whom Jillian Houston rescued years ago — was resting inside his pet tipi on the porch when the coyotes came at him. They dragged poor Max out of his tipi and began to viciously attack him.
Jillian, who was in the house that evening, jumped into action as soon as she heard the commotion.
“I heard what sounded like a bunch of dogs,” Jillian narrated. “I opened the blinds and saw a bunch of coyotes flinging around what I thought was a dead animal at the time.”
Immediately, Jillian let out screams through the window, ultimately scaring the coyotes away. Then, to her horror, Max walked into the house with blood, feces, and snow all over him. Without wasting time, the couple rushed him to a veterinarian.
Dog undergoes surgery after attack by coyotes
“They scanned him, he had broken ribs so they had to open him completely,” Hart Houston shared. “Coyotes have bacteria in their teeth and they had to open him up and flush him out completely, which was a pretty invasive surgery.”
The Houstons believe that Max’s thick collar played a big role in him miraculously surviving the horrific attack. According to the couple, the collar prevented the coyotes from inflicting a deadly puncture wound on Max’s neck, which would have likely killed him.
“We are just thankful we have Max alive,” Jillian stated. “ That’s the best Christmas gift.”
Unfortunately, the canine suffered gashes between his ribs as a result of the coyotes’ deep bites.
Even though Max was discharged and is recovering at home, he’s not completely out of danger. The couple shared that Max is still prone to infection.
“The doctor said at his recent checkup, he’s not in the clear yet because the internal surgery was really extensive and he’s still vulnerable to the bacteria,” Jillian commented.
Max may undergo more surgeries to aid in his recovery.
Following the gruesome attack, the Houstons — who stated they’d never sighted coyotes in their area before — called on Colorado pet owners to beware of these dangerous wild animals, who aren’t afraid to come as close as one’s front door.
