Dear Editor,
We would like to comment on your opinion, “Coyote Concerns Reach New Level.” As Los Alamitos residents for 43 years, only in recent years have we had problems with coyotes. Now we are “prisoners in our own backyard.”
Dear Editor,
We would like to comment on your opinion, “Coyote Concerns Reach New Level.” As Los Alamitos residents for 43 years, only in recent years have we had problems with coyotes. Now we are “prisoners in our own backyard.”
Last year, we lost one cat due to a coyote attack in our front yard. Our neighbor’s dog was severely injured when a coyote leaped our fence with a cat in his mouth, and proceeded to eat the cat in our yard. When Animal Control arrived an hour later, the coyote was still eating. Animal Control took a photo and stated we had a good backyard for coyotes! We were advised to keep dogs on leashes and watch small children at all times. Three days later, the coyote returned, dug up a cat head buried near our bedroom window, and ate it leisurely under the shade of one of our trees. Again, Animal Control came, noted the incident, and kindly took the cat skull.
Since then, we do not feed the wild birds (no birds, no stray cats). And when grandchildren or dogs are visiting and playing in the yard, we are “on guard.”
As you noted in your opinion, a two-year-old child was grabbed by a coyote in Cypress at peaceful Forest Lawn. Subsequently, three coyotes were shot and killed that day!
As animal lovers with many dogs and cats for over 43 years in Los Alamitos, we are saddened by the current state of affairs due to fearless coyotes with no predators. Obviously, we need an aggressive effort to rid the area of coyotes.
Jim and Pat Rozolis
Los Alamitos
Pet owners beware of wildlife control measures
I am a veterinarian at Los Alamitos Animal Hospital. On Friday, July 26, a pet owner from Rossmoor brought her dog in after he ate toxic rat bait. The rat bait was placed by Orange County Vector Control on Wednesday July 24 to kill rats in the neighborhood. At the time it was placed this pet owner asked if the bait would hurt her dogs and was told that they wouldn’t be able to get to it and that it would not hurt them even if they did. This was incorrect information on both counts. I am very concerned that other pet owners and parents are not aware how toxic this bait is. If ingested and not treated quickly, the pet or child could die from bleeding within three to four days.
Even if pets are brought in when bleeding signs are first noted, they can die in spite of being treated. Vector control used an extremely toxic anti-coagulant rodenticide that can kill any mammal that ingests it, including children and toddlers.
Fortunately for this dog, the owner was home and saw him eat the bait. She brought him in immediately. We were able to make him vomit to rid him of the toxin and we put both he and her other pet on Vitamin K1, which is the antidote to this poison. I am concerned for pets and children that could potentially ingest this toxin, and if the owners or parents are not aware of it, it is potentially fatal to the victim. This bait is very palatable and dogs will eat it willingly like a treat if given the opportunity.
Claudia Horvath, D.V.M.
Los Alamitos Animal Hospital
Los Alamitos
