What animals can bite off half a skull on small dog and rip it in half ? Something picked him up and drop him

[JacinLarkwell]

Under a tree, I would suspect a cat of some kind

 

[Zumashouse]

I am very sorry about your little dog. I had small inside dogs for 30 years until I moved to the country. I no longer want a small inside dog (that would still need to go outside for potty breaks), because your loss would be my greatest fear.

The way you worded your thread title and first post "dropped under a tree" caused me to think "raptor" too, even though others have listed possible land predator culprits. Owls usually do focus on their prey's head and neck, and also sometimes open up the skull to eat the brain. (I'm sorry if my input causes you even more emotional pain, because finding your dog in that condition was surely very traumatic.) Also, did the attack happen during day or night? Where was your dog/type of enclosure (if any) when the attack happened?

Your little dog wasn't much larger than the average-sized chicken, so the modus operandi for the predator is likely comparable as if the predator took a chicken.

Thank you for your help and kind words. This happened at night and my neighbors yard. This was a small dog and very loving and playful. He had the neighbors pit as his friend. I found him under a tree so I'm thinking something picked him up and dropped him by the tree. We have so many wild birds and animals. I usually am careful but this night it happened in matter of minutes under 2-4 minutes if that. He is at peace now I berried him . But what hurt him was so quiet and fast. I'm scared to walk out now at night. I just wanted to see if anyone can help and all of your comments help allot. Thank you for your time and help

 

[Folly's place]

I'm so sorry!
Mary

 

[McChooky]

One night after going in and out my backdoor and my front for over an hour calling for my cat who was notorious for hiding from me his body suddenly appeared 10 ft from the backdoor where no less than 5 minutes before I was standing .Same spot . I'll never know what happened or how he got there but due to his massive internal injuries,broken legs and brain damage he had to be put down.I know he didn't walk there but even if he could have it doesn't explain where he was or what happened to him.My yard is fenced and the gate was shut.he would have had to jump over the fence to get in the yard if he was out front.The only explanation is he was behind the house and something attacked him there but he had no puncture wounds.Only a badly bruised spot the size on a fist like he'd been hit by a ball bat.

 

[Folly's place]

Cats and small dogs are very vulnerable to being attacked and killed by large dogs and coyotes, day or night, here in southern Michigan, and big cats or bears add to that risk.
Mary
And those big owls too.

 

[Allsfairinloveandbugs]

Thank you for your help and kind words. This happened at night and my neighbors yard. This was a small dog and very loving and playful. He had the neighbors pit as his friend. I found him under a tree so I'm thinking something picked him up and dropped him by the tree. We have so many wild birds and animals. I usually am careful but this night it happened in matter of minutes under 2-4 minutes if that. He is at peace now I berried him . But what hurt him was so quiet and fast. I'm scared to walk out now at night. I just wanted to see if anyone can help and all of your comments help allot. Thank you for your time and help

Your intuition initially said "owl" and that scenario does sound like an owl to me. Wing beats of owls are silent, & a very large owl could have managed to pick him up. If it was a ground predator as others suspect, you can put a camera in the vicinity and see if anything shows up, especially since you are now yourself hesitant to be outside at night.

My final little (7 pounds) inside dog died in 2012 of old age, at the rural property where I now reside. At dusk that same eve, i stood outside & watched a great horned owl take flight from an old oak tree. Thought to myself, "You did it; you kept them safe." I tried to always keep close watch same as you did, but the same thing could have easily happened. As I told you, it was my greatest fear.

When I got my first chickens two years later, I literally proceeded with the idea of "Ok, if i was gonna house my beloved little dogs in the woods, what housing would I need to keep them safe?" That's when I found BYC & learned what all I needed to do to build a fort knox run and coop. I do understand your pain and loss (and others do too), & am so very sorry.

 

[McChooky]

People need to be aware of the danger of letting cats and dogs out unsupervised. I waited 2 years before I rescued 2 kittens after that nightmare. They were raised as kittens indoors and have catios,catwalks and outdoor cages with pet doors so they can enjoy the great outdoors. I've never let them run loose outdoors but I do walk them on leashes occasionally.

 

[cmom]

So sorry for your loss. A neighbor's small dog was killed by a coyote. I would add bobcat to that list. My suggestion would be to put up a camera. Most likely whatever it was has been around and will be back and then you should know for sure what has been and is lurking. Good luck...

 

[McChooky]

Researchers have confirmed Hawks and Owls both kill pets if food is scarce esp if they have young. Owls crush their skulls with their talons where canine bite and shake their prey to kill it. Cats bite their prey in the neck to immobilize it by piercing its vertebrae.Heres a link for more info on Owls and pets: https://wildlifefaq.com/do-owls-attack-cats-and-dogs/