Comedian and actress Brittany Furlan Lee, wife of Mötley Crüe drummer Tommy Lee, is sharing an urgent message to pet owners after a coyote attack at their Los Angeles home nearly left her without her beloved dog.
Furlan Lee was supervising her two small dogs in the comfort of her own backyard in Woodland Hills on Tuesday when a coyote snatched her 10-year-old dachshund, Neena. Home surveillance footage showed the frightening encounter as the dog owner frantically yelled and chased after the coyote with her pooch in its mouth.
“I’m still shaken up,” she told NBC Los Angeles.
The attack happened in broad daylight when the couple’s two dogs were in the backyard. Furlan Lee said she saw the wild animal from the corner of her eye and originally thought it was a German shepherd.
“I saw it and I thought, ‘Oh, the neighbor’s dog got out.’ Then I realize, ‘Oh my god, it’s a coyote.’ And then I immediately … this all happened so quickly,” she recounted.
Furlan Lee bravely chased after the coyote in hopes of getting Neena back to safety. Video shows her husband in the backyard moments later after hearing the commotion. Thankfully, the dog’s size played a part in the coyote letting go as it tried to jump over the yard’s 10-foot wall.
“She’s a heavier dachshund so he jumped over the wall and her legs were hanging and I jumped up the wall and grabbed her legs from out of his mouth,” she said.
According to Furlan Lee, her pet thankfully was unharmed in the ordeal.
“Thank god, she’s not injured,” she said. “She doesn’t have any bites or puncture wounds.”
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Still feeling uneasy about the encounter, Furlan Lee said she hopes her unfortunate experience raises awareness for other pet owners to be aware of their surroundings.
“Just be very vigilant, no matter what,” she advised. “You could never be close enough to your dog when they’re out there. Never leave them alone. I was standing right in that doorway and had I not been, it could’ve been bad.”
A few tips from wildlife officials:
- Never feed or attempt to tame coyotes. The result may be deadly conflicts with pets or livestock, or serious injuries to small children.
- Do not leave small children or pets outside unattended.
- Install motion-sensitive lighting around the house.
- Trim ground-level shrubbery to reduce hiding places.
- Be aware that coyotes are more active in the spring, when feeding and protecting their young.
- If followed by a coyote, make loud noises. If this fails, throw rocks in the animal’s direction.
- If a coyote attacks a person, immediately contact the nearest Department of Fish and Wildlife or law enforcement office.
- Put garbage in tightly closed containers that cannot be tipped over.
- Remove sources of water, especially in dry climates.
- Bring pets in at night, and do not leave pet food outside.
- Avoid using bird feeders as they attract rodents and other coyote prey.
- Provide secure enclosures for rabbits, poultry and other livestock.
- Pick up fallen fruit and cover compost piles.
- Ask your neighbors to follow these tips.
