Dog owners in La Verne, California, experienced a frightening moment when their dog, Holly Jolly, was attacked by a mountain lion.
On February 10, Holly’s owners, Steve and Nicole, were watching a movie when the cougar attacked their three-year-old dog in the backyard.
“We heard a yelping, and my husband said, ‘Is that Holly?’ I thought it was the television, but he believed it was Holly,” Nicole explained.
The mountain lion fled after the homeowners rushed outside to help their dog. However, it returned about 20 minutes later, apparently searching for Holly.
By then, Holly was safely inside the house. She is expected to recover from her injuries.
Steve and Nicole know that their neighborhood is home to wildlife, including mountain lions.
However, this was the first time they had experienced a cougar coming so close to Holly.
The attack happened at around 9 p.m. The mountain lion pounced on the giant schnauzer, wrestling with her and biting her.
Steve and Nicole could hear Holly whimpering as the struggle continued outside.
The couple began screaming and shouting, startling the mountain lion. Their reaction gave Holly a chance to escape and run away.
Steve explained that he initially thought Holly might be playing with a skunk or another animal, so he went to get a gun.
Although Holly managed to get away, she suffered several injuries during the frightening encounter.
A veterinarian treated Holly for scratches and multiple puncture wounds. She also required surgery and received numerous stitches.
“She did have surgery. She had a lot of puncture wounds and many stitches. They said there was just a lot,” Nicole told ABC 7.
Despite everything she went through, Steve and Nicole said Holly was doing well and described her as a fighter.
“She’s enjoying all the extra love, all the extra treats, and all the extra attention. She’s loving it right now,” Nicole said.
Steve and Nicole are now warning their neighbors to stay alert for wildlife that could threaten people or pets.
They want residents to understand the seriousness of the situation, especially because the mountain lion was bold enough to enter a backyard and attack a dog nearly its own size.
Steve plans to accompany Holly whenever she goes into the backyard to help keep her safe.
