Hubby works close to home and he always comes home for lunch and lets the dogs out to potty and play outside for about 45 minutes. Today they were sitting outside when all of a sudden a HUGE hawk swoops down 10 feet from hubby, Winston and Zoe and attacks "something" on the ground. IT SCARED THEM ALL HALF TO DEATH!!! Hubby gathered the dogs close and said about two minutes later he saw it circle our yard again without anything in it's mouth. He quickly took the babies inside. I have seen them circling the neighborhood and have heard "their voice" many times. Now I am afraid for them to even be outside!!!!!!
Quick, call 1-800-RENT-A-PITBULL!!!
Merlin the Magician
We have hawks and huge turkey buzzards, but they seem to stay away from the backyards.
I've seen a cat get completely spooked by an owl. That owl was hungry, swooping down on the cat. The cat ended up taking refuge underneath some parked cars.
Yikes!! I would be terrified too! Wow! I'm not sure they would have the strength to lift your babies. The largest thing i have seen them successfully pick up was a baby rabbit that weighed about 4 pounds. Now that was sad! Just to be safe, I would leave them in the house unless you are with them though. How scary!!
Yep, that's scary. We have hawks that circle our backyard a lot too. One afternoon I was out with Chilie, and one hawk just kept flying and circling closer and lower to our yard. I stood up and walked over next to Chilie. The hawk slowly went away when he realized that the big object was not going to leave the little object.
There was an article on CNN.com a couple years ago about a doxie who got carried away by a hawk. It survived, but suffered deep puncture wounds in it's side.
That is so scary. Glad dad was there to protect the kids. Whether they could be lifted or not, they could still get hurt if "beaked".
Yes, I agree they could get hurt severely by the beak and talons of the hawk. I would definately keep them inside unless I were right there with them. Yikes!
I'm glad everyone is OK. We have to watch out for bald eagles in our area.
:crazyeyes: How scarey!!!! Glad Winnie, Zoe and hubby are all fine.... We have never had anything like that happen, but there is always a first... We have had Mountain Lions down in the valley from the mountains before... AHHHHHHH!!!!!!!! Now those scare me.... :confused: Belly rubs to Zoe, Winston and Sheba.... Oh my, and your cats.... Do they go outside??? *hugs*
Thank you all for your well wishes and replies. I haven't seen any Hawks "In Action" before but from what hubby says, they are really fast. I am just worried one will go after my dogs and will get ahold of them with his talons. I went out with them this morning and stayed really close to them. Hubby is going to have to be "on their heels" at lunch and when he gets home from work. I have one cat "Tigger", who goes in and out. I usually let him out towards the evening hours when the birds are "gone" because he has a history of catching birds....(now he catches bats occasionally and we still can't figure out how he does that!!). Mountain Lions and Bald Eagles are frightening also. What a worry!! No Bald Eagle or Mtn Lion problems here but everybody just be very careful!!! At my sister's house she has two miniature poodles that we walk in the yard with because the Bald Eagles are a problem there. Be on the lookout for these predators......Good thing mommie was there for Chilie!!!
I seem to remember your photo and you have a basset? Can you take the bigger doggies out to run around, bay, bark and generally cause comotion? Seems to me that the hawk would get the idea to take your address off his dinner list!
Karen :heart:
My Husband is ever vigilant of this when we are at our beach house, because the lawn is so open. Also because Vivie is only 5 lbs. That must have been scary. It would have freaked me out! Be safe! :angel4: :angel4:
Yikes!!
Glad everyone is OK!!
I always watch out for coyotes and skunks but who knew we have to watch the skies, too????
Thanks for the warning!
Dawn
Eek! I think I've heard of that happening before - someone's poor wiener kid getting carried off by a big ol' bird! I remember when Berman was a little 2 pound baby, I had him at work and we were outside so he could go potty. There were maybe 3 or 4 of those big black birds sitting in the trees just watching him! I was prepared to take them all on if need be!
Karen, I have an Australian Shepherd mix.....she is 55 lbs, but she is the biggest "Baby" of them all. She is timid; was a rescue and she is afraid of everything. My doxies run rings around her....lol
Yes, I'm glad I was there too! I actually haven't seen the hawks for a while, but sure enough, we were just out in the yard and there were two of them circling high above our field. I brought Chilie and Lara back inside. Since our yard isn't fenced, I'm always out with Chilie when she's in the yard. We've also had incidents of a couple dogs getting loose in our neighborhood....a doberman and a pitbull! :crazyeyes: So I never leave Chilie or Lara out in the yard unattended.