Bellingham, Washington – A cougar in Sudden Valley was tracked by wildlife officials and killed after it attacked a family’s small dog. As reported by KIRO News, the Buchanan family’s little dog, Izzy, was outside her home on Saturday morning when a cougar picked her up and started to run away.
Denise Buchanan’s husband ran outside as the big cat was running away, and he successfully scared the cougar enough for Izzy to be dropped. He then threw a rock, striking the cougar in the head before retreating with the injured dog.
Izzy had to undergo surgery at an emergency veterinarian for her injuries; she is expected to make a full recovery.
The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife confirmed the cougar was killed after officials tracked it after the attack – no word on how they determined that the cat they killed was the same on who grabbed Izzy.
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17 Comments
Typical human scum … you infringe on these wild animals habitats. When they are hungry they will search for food. You killed it without even knowing if it was the RIGHT one. You live in an area with wild animals .. keep your damn pets indoors. I’m willing to bet .. their stupid mutt was yapping and drew the attention of that cat.
Totally agree! So sad 🙁
Animals are never to blame! Stupid evil wildlife officers!
Sorry but I would not want the cougar or any animal killed for that reason. Humans think they are so special and can kill any animal for any reason. The cougar doesn’t know it should not be taking a pet. No wonder I have no use for most human shit and wouldn’t lift a finger to help most.
Humans move into their territory and then expect the animals to just accept it an go? If humans are willing to live in a place where there are wild animals, then they should not expect those animals just to walk away. It is their home too.
“They think” is not a valid reason to destroy any animal. Letting a small dog out, when you know, and they obviously were aware of, there are large predators in the area, is a form of animal neglect/abuse. The owners should be charged with neglect and educated on the presence of large predators and the fact that the cougar did not “attack” out of malice but out of predator drive.
I’m sorry, ” they think ” they killed the cougar who stole the dog? why did they kill any cougar? we are the intruders. This is where they live,outside!!! Shame on the people who murdered the cougar! This is very wrong 😢May he rest in peace 🩵😢
Why kill the cougar when it is just acting out its nature? Since they were able to track it- why didn’t they just tranquillize it, and move it to a preserve? Why death being the only option? Or was it a trophy hunt?
There was absolutely NO REASON to kill this cougar which was probably very hungry, may have had cubs waiting in the bushes to eat, and was just following its instincts. Wildlife does not differentiate its dinner options. If in cougar country, dogs should be inside the house or inside an enclosure. Apparently the cougar killer thought he was a big macho guy with his big gun who felt free to murder this wild cat.
i AGREE! wHY KILL A COUGAR WHO WAS JUST TRYING TO SURVIVE? i FEEL FOR IZZY AND i AM GLAD SHE WILL BE OK BUT IF WE LIVE IN A TERRITORY WITH WILD ANIMALS W NEED TO BE MORE CAREFUL
Exactly. Humans must know their surrounding and accompany family companions and keep them supervised and leashed. Humans are the reason cougars are losing their food source due to deforestation. Cougars deserve protection also and should not have been killed senselessly.
SHAME ON WILDLIFE OFFICIALS!
Wild animals obey their instincts and should not be punished with death for it.
Nature is shrinking rapidly due to urbanization and rampant human overpopulation, and wild animals, having lost their homes, are descending into our towns and villages.
Let’s learn to respect them instead of killing them! Let’s give them back their territories!
POOR WEE THING!! WHAT A HORRIBLE ORDEAL TO GO THROUGH…
GOD BLESS THIS WEE ONE AND MAY SHE OR HE HEAL SPEEDILY…
So another bad choice by a human and a top predatory cat is killed for doing what a top predatory cat does. Shameful.
I’m sorry for what the dog went through but why wasn’t he on a leash? Pets cannot be left unattended when there are other animals around. Killing a wild animal for trying to survive as humans encroach on their hunting grounds is ignorant and killing the cougar is just wrong.
i don’t think they should have shot the cougar. maybe trap in a cage and transport to a wildness area.
that’s my opinion. stable
So we track and kill a wild animal for acting on natural instincts? I feel for the family as it certainly would have been traumatic, but if you live in an area with wild animals then it’s on you to take precautions to protect your dog and not blame the cougar.