[Dubby]

I recently moved to large retirement community with lots of green spaces, trees, bushes and paths running through it...awesome for walking dogs. While doing just that, I started meeting some neighbors, a few told me to watch my dogs because coyotes had been seen in the neighborhood. I've lived in the same area for almost 15 years and never seen such a thing so I didn't totally believe it.

Unfortunately, it's true, while in my car, I saw one very near to my home out in broad daylight. I pulled over to the curb and honked my horn a few times. No fear, it just stood there and stared at me. It was so much larger than I would have expected.

Now I'm afraid to take both my Yorkies walking at the same time. I carry one of those horribly loud air horn things as the spray requires some ability to grab it and aim it in the right direction. Myself, like almost anyone else on this board, wouldn't think twice about jumping in to save my dogs.

Of course, I have noooo idea if the air horn would actually scare off a coyote. It's supposed to be able to be heard for a half mile. I worry that if I do have to use it, the incredibly loud sound could scare my dog or a neighbor to death.

It's a sad thing when wild animals are deprived of a place to live and hunt because their habitat is plowed up to build yet more homes. It seems no concessions are made for this at all. They are just left to starve. Their only small chance is to come into the neighborhoods to hunt.