Enemy of my Yorkie -- Hungry Hawk

[lillymae]

Originally Posted by laci32

I want to add from my experiance Hawks cant pick up cats or a yorkie for that matter. Hell I've seen them unable to pick up a squirrel. Their game is much smaller not something that can hurt them back

There are lots of diff types of Hawks & the med to large Hawks absolutely can & do pick up cats & small dogs & carry them off. They will even try to pick up animals too heavy for them & then drop them, Usually killing them on ground impact. Also they will try for a larger dog & not succeed in lifting the dog off the ground but once the talons strike the victim it will tear the skin rite off their backs.
I used to live in an area highly populated with Hawks & Owls. I worked for a vet in this area & let me tell you that it's not pretty what the large birds of prey can do to your dogs & cats. I will never forget the 1st time I saw the skin ripped of a dogs back by a Hawk & trying to place & hold the skin back in place for the Dr to sew it back on with numerous drains & many recheck visits for drain cleaning that was completely miserable for the dog. Months of physical therapy to stretch the scare tissue so the poor guy could walk straight & just be able to Curl up on his bed. Yes it Happens.

[4csonsinga]

4 huge hawks that circle my neighborhood each day. it's a pain, but someone always goes out with the pup.

[addevo]

I thought of this thread when I saw this article about a little dog in Canada that "fell from the sky."

Toy Poodle Dog "Miracle May" Drops From Sky By Bird In B.C. | Global Animal

[lillymae]

Originally Posted by addevo

I thought of this thread when I saw this article about a little dog in Canada that "fell from the sky."

Toy Poodle Dog "Miracle May" Drops From Sky By Bird In B.C. | Global Animal

Thank You for this link. There have been a couple of posts doubting & saying that it could not happen & I know for a fact it does. I would just hate for people to read this thread & doubt it can happen as that would give people a FALSE sense of security & they may let their guard down at the expense of their precious babies. That would be just tragic.

[Ringo1]

I don't doubt that this can happen AT ALL. It's the rest of the story that everyone had raised questions on . . .

YES, a hawk can absolutely kill a small dog.

[itsbaddangel]

My friend's 2lb puppy got picked up by a hawk and a hawk also tried to take a big fish from his pond (but dropped the fish). The yorkie wasn't so lucky.
I live behind a wide open soccer field with lots of surrounding trees and the hawks stalk my dogs from the rooftops and trees. I'm not taking any chances!!! Jazi's still small (less than 4 lbs).

[Brooklynmommie]

Great stories!

[susan lynn]

Originally Posted by itsbaddangel

My friend's 2lb puppy got picked up by a hawk and a hawk also tried to take a big fish from his pond (but dropped the fish). The yorkie wasn't so lucky.
I live behind a wide open soccer field with lots of surrounding trees and the hawks stalk my dogs from the rooftops and trees. I'm not taking any chances!!! Jazi's still small (less than 4 lbs).

That is so sad, we live on 5 acres and Sassy only weighs 6 lbs. I have seen Hawks a lot we have 20 acres with a creek beside our house so we get lots of unwanted animal visitors.

[LolaMaesMamma]

Originally Posted by megansmomma

I for one do not believe your story and think this is nothing except a very TALL tail. If by some slim chance this is a factual tale my suggestion to you is to pray that the DNR does not come knocking at your door. The killing of a protected species is a very serious crime punishable by time spent behind bars. If you were that unwise to have blown a hawks head off while on the end of a Yorkie leash I would be very concerned about that next knock at your door. Hope you have found YorkieTalk lived up yo all of your expectations.

My mother let her Yorkie outside to do her 5am business (b4 sunrise) this past January. Because of the harsh Jaunary chill, she stepped inside the usual 3-5 min b4 opening the door to let her back inside. Ritzy never came and was never found. Neighbors, co-workers, friends and family searched and posted "lost dog" signs for weeks. It had snowed during the night. No tracks. No blood. Mom never heard her bark, growl or cry. The vet explained that it was a Grat Horned Owl. She said it's very common for Yorkies and other small breeds to be taken by an owl or hawk. Even while the dog is on a leash.
I have a Yorkie in the country and am terrified of this. The best/most helpful advice/suggestion is the tip to string up fishing line over the fenced in area where Lola excercises and does her business. I had been thnking structuring Chicken wire or some other type of screen, but the fishing line sounds better.
Protect your precious Yorkies! Don't cast judgement before speaking to your vet. KY happens to be overpopulated with the owls from the local zoo (who release them). *sigh*

[nanahas3]

Originally Posted by Grendel

The largest eagle in the world weighs ~15 pounds(and it eats fish) so getting a dog/cat in the air by a hawk is not possible. They could injure a dog/cat, but they will not take them away.

A hawk or an owl can carry up to double their own weight.