What would have carried off my little dog?

[MuranoFarms]

Poor little baby! I'm glad she's feeling better.

Have you considered a hawk? I've had a full grown chicken and duck taken by hawks this year. I would suppose the duck was about 8lbs. The campground I hold the swaps at had a hawk pick up their chihuahua. It had a clothesline leash on and someone was sitting on the porch and saw the hawk fly off with the dog! They hawk got about 30 feet up and the leash snapped causing it to drop the dog. I would have never believed it had somebody not actually seen it. They said the dog was about 9lbs. These hawks are getting entirely too bold for my liking!

 

[woodmort]

At night there is no question it was a GHO--pattern fits. I suspect the bird just misjudged it's attack and the dog escaped and/or it possibly was a young bird that couldn't quite carry the dog away. GHO's have been know to attack and carry off toy poodles so a yorkie that small would have been easy. They are fearless birds when it comes to prey and have been know to go through humans to get at dogs/cats if they are hungry enough. If one can carry off a full grown duck--which they will--that pup would have been easy. She was extremely lucky.

 

[Oregon Blues]

Owl, coyote, fox, lots of things eat an animal that small. It could even be another dog.

I have small dogs and they are never outside without protection. They are fenced and unless they are in their covered kennel, they are not outside even in the fenced yard unless someone is with them.

I'm not going to take the risk of losing them.

 

[mommissan]

I say fox. They drop their prey if they are threatened. Those meals aren't worth keeping if they slow them down from escaping.

 

[Achickenwrangler#1]

It does sound most like an owl, grabbed her and the weight tore open the wounds, where likely once she fell, with the other dog in pursuit, the owl didn't go back, esp since you didn't find tracks, besides, the coyote would have just kept running and likely grabbed the other dog as well. The open field next to your house is perfect for owl hunting.

 

[Pumpkinpup]

I am just very thankful that your little one is recovering from her harrowing ordeal and is back in the arms of her loving family! She is a very fortunate pup indeed!

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=432154
See my old thread about an owl carrying my MIL's dog 100 feet. She witnessed it!