Coyotes are on the attack in Vilonia. A Chihuahua goes up against one and lives but now the dog's owner is worried the wild animal could attack a family member. Game and Fish officers tell FOX16 it's highly unlikely but they still need to be careful.
For the years now the French family has only seen glimpses of coyotes and heard them but Tuesday their dog came up close and personal with one that attacked her.
"That's our baby, one of them," says Ken and Adwinna French.
They almost lost their baby, Little Bit is on her feet now but a few days ago a coyote brutally attacked her. "When I came out the door Little Bit was half way down the drive way and the coyote was right behind her," said Ken.
He says the dogs whining made him look out of the window, once outside he scared the animal away then later realized the seriousness of the attack. "Seen one big gash in her back when you open it up you could pretty much see in her she got several bites on her side."
The vet says the dog is recovering fine but the Frenches are concerned now about their eight year old son as he waits for the school bus each morning. "It did happen so early in the morning and it was light out. I'm worried about him standing our by himself and some of them coming up on him," said Adwinna.
"They are not a major threat to people. In the US 4 million people get attacked by dogs but coyote attacks on people are miniscule," said Blake Sasse with Arkansas Game and Fish Commission.
Sasse says coyotes prefer rabbits and rodents but have been known to attack small pets. But because coyote attacks on humans are not unheard of he has suggestions to protect you. If you encounter one scream they'll usually run off and by all means keep an eye on your pets. "Keep pets inside, feed them inside if you do feed them outside bring in any extra food so there aren't any scraps coyotes might be attracted to."
If coyotes pose a threat to you officer Sasse says you have the right to shoot them.
Ken says he wants to be a good neighbor but he'll do what he can to protect his family. The Frenches say as far as they know no other dogs have been attacked in the area. But their neighbors are complaining about attacks on chickens and their garbage. Game and Fish officers say coyotes are very adaptable animals and can live anywhere so people are bound to encounter them in someway.
