4# Yorkie survives Hawk Attack
 

http://www.post-gazette.com/pets/pet...s/201501170005


By Linda Wilson Fuoco / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

A very large hawk swooped down, dug its talons into a tiny Yorkshire terrier and lifted the dog 15 feet into the air, right in front of its owner, Lori Timczyk, who screamed and screamed. Then it dropped the 4-pound dog on the rear deck of the Timczyk home in Green Tree.

Rocky, 7, almost bled to death but was saved by the quick thinking — and driving — of his family, the navigational help of Siri, the know-it-all voice on an Apple mobile phone, and really good treatment at an emergency veterinary clinic.

Around 9 a.m. Jan. 4, Rocky was in his front yard, taking “his morning constitutional.” Just as Mrs. Timczyk opened the front door to call Rocky inside, the hawk grabbed the dog and carried him away.

Albert Timczyk, a corporate pilot who had been packing for an out-of-town trip, came running when he heard his wife screaming. The couple think their screams made the hawk drop their dog.

“There was blood everywhere. It was horrendous,” Mrs. Timczyk said.

Rocky wasn’t crying or making any noise. He was conscious but “seemed to be in shock.”

“If I hadn’t opened the door exactly when I did,” Rocky would have been gone, Mrs. Timczyk said.

The hawk’s talons had punctured an artery. Mr. Timczyk applied pressure, trying to stop the bleeding. His wife ran for a first-aid kit and her iPhone, and they screamed to wake up Jessica, their 15-year-old daughter.

They ran to the car, Mr. Timczyk in boxer underwear, his wife without shoes and their daughter in pajamas. Jessica asked Siri for the closest emergency veterinary clinic, and Siri gave them VCA Castle Shannon Animal Hospital. Jessica was the navigator, giving her parents driving directions.

Castle Shannon veterinarian Jennifer Lopez said they got there just in time. Rocky’s gums were white, which can indicate shock or internal bleeding. He had almost “bled out,” she said.

“They used pressure bandages, but they had a hard time stopping the bleeding,” Mrs. Timczyk said. There were deep puncture wounds on Rocky’s chest, upper back and a leg, and there were scrapes on his forehead.

Rocky was able to come home at 9 p.m. that evening, but three days later he stopped eating and drinking and had to spend another night at the Castle Shannon hospital. He was given fluids so he wouldn’t dehydrate and was monitored for infections and liver damage. Rocky is now eating, drinking and healing. The bruising is subsiding, and at a vet visit Tuesday his liver readings were approaching the normal range.

“I’m not sure I can describe adequately the trauma Lori, Jessica and I went through,” Mr. Timczyk said in an email. “We almost lost a member of our family.”

“We don’t want this to ever happen to any pet,” said Mrs. Timczyk, adding that Rocky will never again be outside without a family member.

Hospital staff suggested the family share their story through the media; a spokesman said hospital staff have never seen a family pet mauled by a hawk before.

Rocky does not appear to be traumatized and is cheerfully going out into the yard where the attack occurred.

“He’s back to normal,” Mrs. Timczyk said.

The attack was highly unusual, and the bird was undoubtedly a red-tailed hawk, according to spokesmen at the National Aviary on the North Side and the Pennsylvania Game Commission. That’s the largest hawk that lives and flies in close proximity to houses and people, they said. They have never heard of a wild hawk carrying off a small pet.

“Four pounds would be the absolute upper limit” of what a large red-tailed hawk could carry, said Bob Mulvihill, ornithologist at the National Aviary. “That was an ambitious attack, and I don’t think the hawk will do it again.”

Red-tailed hawks generally eat mice, moles, voles, small rabbits and, in warm months, a snake or two. They steer clear of people, although they might exhibit threatening behavior in the spring if people come close to their nests, Mr. Mulvihill said.

The screams of Rocky’s owners may have made the hawk drop the dog, or it might have been because the dog was too heavy, he said.

Rocky got another break: Red-tailed hawks usually kill their prey on the ground and then carry them away, Mr. Mulvihill said. Mrs. Timczyk’s screams might have prevented the kill.

Tom Fazi, information and education supervisor for the Game Commission’s southwest region, said red-tailed hawks are plentiful thanks to a decades-long ban on many pesticides and because the birds have “protected” status, meaning no one’s allowed to shoot them.

Coyotes pose a bigger threat to small pets, and coyotes are “everywhere,” Mr. Fazi said, including the city and densely populated suburbs. His office has not received reports of coyotes killing pets, although they get occasional reports of coyotes killing livestock, generally small calves and lambs.

My little 3 lb 10 oz Yorkie survived a hawk attack a couple years ago. There is a thread somewhere here on Yorkie talk about it.

All of the wild life experts kept saying that those Hawks would never go for anything they could not carry and that she was too big (that is why I got a citation for a fine of $10,000brcause they were convinced that I had killed the hawk). I now know so much more

Hawks will try to disable or kill their pray with their talons an then take the prey to their young or some place else to eat. However, there are some who will attack and then eat the preynright then a no there If the environment is safe, and these will go larger prey. They do, however, prefer easier prey, but when they are hungry they will go anything.

But they do keep saying,mother won't go for the 6 or 7 pound dog -- then I keep hearing stories like this! Bottom line is -- we have to protect our babies all the time!

My Little Cali killed the hawk, and I could not begin to describe the fight for her life she went through. (and what it took for me to prove I did not kill the hawk! Because a minimum of 30 days in jail went with that fine!)

I live n a suburban area and see Hawks all the time. Unfortunately my nice fenced yard is no longer a place my baby can out to at her leisure. She does not get to go out without me!!!!!!! But that hawk is protected and gets free range!

Don't telll anyone you heard it here-- but I told my attorney that if any hawk comes after my baby again, I will kill it and burying to China and no one will ever know!! So keep that in mind. Unfortunately and fortunately, too many people in my neighborhood saw the hawk attack and Cali fight so it could not be kept a secret -- and a lady in the neighborhood after hearing about Cali called the Fish and Wildlife folks and complained that her kitten went missing and now she thinks a hawk got them, so put more interest on my neighborhood at the time.

The Hawks will start nesting soon and raising the young and that is the most dangerous times for our little ones. So stay vigilant! And, beware of all those stories that our babies are too big for the hawks to be interested in them- I have watched hawks and owls at a local park take rabbits bigger than my little girl!

It took an autopsy by the vets to prove that Cali broke the Hawks neck (which is how the Yorkies killed their prey in the wool mills) during their fight for the government to finally decide I did not kill the hawk.

Of course, now I have a plan and the tools to kill a hawk--Hehehehe!

Don't underestimate those Hawks- they are very efficient and experienced at what they do!

Just a head's-up, just because you are standing there don't plan on that deterring the hawk from grabbing your little ones. My DD and I were outside with my chickens, close enough to pet them, when a redtail swooped down and grabbed one - right between two humans.

My little dogs are now stuck in a covered, fenced-in area to potty and even then, I have seen a young hawk sitting on the gate less than 10 feet from where I was sitting - (in the covered run!) just staring at my little dogs.

Jay, I always think about Cali, when hawk attacks are brought into conversation. She is one brave little girl.

I do think that our pups have a much better chance if we are outside with them. That is part of the reason why Cali is here because you were able to run right to her.

Sometimes I wonder if netting over an area of a backyard would help. It appears to keep birds out of pools in Florida. Just thinking outloud...

I have netting over my chicken and duck pens because of the hawks. It does help.

You are so right! Hawks are not scared of people at all. I saved a dove once and went to let it go and a hawk swooped down and grabbed it right in front of me. Part of the reason that I rarely take Hannah outdoors. Not to mention the coyotes. I also saw a hawk on our telephone pole with a live fish it must have gotten out of our pond. I wouldn't want to shoot them but don't threaten my babies! I am glad your Cali got that one! I live in the big middle of a wildlife refuge so I'll bet they put monitors on some of them around here.

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You are right Lisa - lots of folks build things almost like cabana rooms to,protect their little ones. Some build runs with wire over the top. Makes sense.

I still think we were really really lucky!

:eek: I hear these stories and because of that (and many other things) ms lilah has never had the roam of our property but oh my goodness- to read the article and then jay- I did not know that about Cali, what a horrifying experience and what a major bad a$$ Cali is!

We also have kept livestock on our property and have enough battles with raccoons, coyotes and mountain cats, hawks are a whole mother trouble becausse they will come in the middle of the day when you don't expect them and as an air strike which we are usually not prepared for. We have lost a few chickens to hawks and our poultry pen is now topped with bird netting.

As it stands, lilah is a leash outside gal but I have often dreampt of having a secure off leash area for her on our property. You can bet when that's built that there will be a top on it! Thanks for sharing this story jenny :thumbup:

Wow ! So sad , but glad everything turn out ok ... Yes I always walk and stay with my furbabies while theyre out .... So many stories of small pet being attacked ... My poor friend has lost almost all her chickens and chicks to these hawks....

So happy Cali kick butt , I would help my babies with that flight too ... And yes U need the bird to prove it was kill ... he he
You go Cali !!!!

:thumbup::thumbup::thumbup: A hawk attacked and nearly killed our neighbor's 9 pound Yorkie, same size as my boys. After seeing Jack's drainage tubes and scars, my dad started taking me seriously about the hawk and owl threat.

Just this week, I let Max on the deck, which we have enclosed with xpens, and 2 red shoulder hawks swooped into our back yard. I usually stay out on the deck with the doggies, but I had stepped right inside the door to watch.

Cali is awesome and fearless.

I'm also glad the little Yorkie in this story survived his terrifying ordeal.

This is my dream for a doggy run -- a Florida style pool enclosure -- to protect from coyotes too.

There is a Texas member who had some kind of rope grid installed using the fencing around her yard. I think it is only a 6 foot fence, so not a lot of head clearance for tall people. :D

I have heard of people running fishing line from their 6' fences. And putting red streamers on them. Don't know how that would work - but my 6'6" husband would not have gone for that probably.

Screen over a nice sized run would work.

It is really scary. You have to keep your eyes open constantly. We were house hunting and I decided to walk to a house that is only about a 15 minute walk. I was going to take my puppy Finn but decided at the last minute not to. When I got to the house I saw a huge hawk in the sky. It was hunting something in someone's back yard. It was HUGE! I love the house, we made an offer but it hasn't been on the market long so we are unsure whether or not they will take it but if they do. I am having someone coming to build an enclosed run for my little man to be able to go outside in safety!

ugh I live 10 minutes from where this doggy was almost taken. I have been off leash training my two especially since I do not have a fenced in back yard. Both run out and back in but I still stand outside with them and majority of the time I go down the steps with Geno especially if it is cold and snowy. I am always looking up though and on the phone wires to take notice of any large birds. I hear them in the morning and it always makes me nervous when I go outside with the pups. My biggest fear is having them snatched by an animal. :(

And THIS is what you get threaten with for telling the truth?!.... I guess I'll just have to buy me a shovel.:rolleyes:

Hawks
 

I don't let my 3.8 lb Yorkie go outside without his leash on. Our yard is fenced in but that doesn't keep the Hawks out. A rabbit from the woods was hopping around our yard and a hawk swooped down and got him!
The hawk ate him right there in our yard. Your Yorkie was very brave! Glad you didn't go to jail!

Perfect! I'm going to buy one too and a pick axe.

Hawk Harassment Techniques
 

I have spent the last couple hours out in the cold "fighting" a very persistent hawk in my back yard. Due to past experience my little Cali spots them immediatly and goes on a crazy attack act! The hawk very patiently sits up on the wire and watches every move she makes - then swoops, only to be met with me and my leaf rake! Then goes back up on the wire and watches. Very bold! Will come within about 12 feet of me when he swoops!

The last time the Department of Natural Resources officer came by the visit his friend "Cali the Hawk Slayer" he gave me some new tips. Many of them involved noise makers which would not go over well in my neighborhood and would end up involving the police because they sound like guns.

But there were a couple new ones:
-Lasers can be pointed a couple feet in front of the hawk and moved toward them. These seem to work best in low light situations. My pilot son also pointed out they could possibly blind the bird.
- use eye-spot balloons. These are about the size of a beach ball. I looked them up on line and ordered some of them. In addition to the the "scary, evil eye" thing they incorporate they mylar tape reflector type things.

Just thought I would pass this along. The crow decoys have not been much of a deterent in my yard. Probably me running around in the back yard in the winged crow suit would work the best!!!!!!!! The yard rake, however, does make the bird pull away - but it comes back.

This is my nightmare! I won't let him out without being on leash - and I prefer a harness/leash combo that will allow me to pull Chaucer (also 4 pounds) up quickly.

Always keeps your eyes to the sky. I don't have this issue in my yard, my house is surrounded by 150 foot high oak trees that form a canopy over the yard, so there is no swooping space, how ever, when I do walk him in my area the roads have no tree protection. We have Eagles, Hawks and Falcons, I feel like Linda Blair in the movie The Exorcist, between making sure a dog is not following behind us, checking the woods in case a dog darts out and looking to the sky for prey birds.

wow I cant believe it I guess when I am out side .I will be on the look out for hwaks sounds scary thank u

Hi, I am ex NY'er, several years ago the city re-instated the releasing of Falcons into Central Park to control the rat and pigeon population. The birds are trained for rodents and pigeons, then they are released into the park. A lady was walking her Chihuahua, a falcon swooped down and grabbed the dog that was on leash. The woman managed to pull the dog away from the bird, or the bird released the dog, I forget, but the dog had gashes on both sides of it's body, was rushed to ER. The dog survived. Somehow the trainer of the birds knew which bird it was, captured it, last I read it was being re-trained. So yes, in Manhattan, especially if you are near parks, please be careful. I don't know if they still have the Falcons patrolling the parks. When the population of pigeons and rodents decreases they remove the birds. I guess you can google to get this information.

I just put this on google search.... Falcons in NYC parks
There is much information on this.

I''d kill that hawk in a Skinny SECOND and no one has to know. If all those people saw Cali and the hawk fighting- why was there even a question of who killed the hawk or why? Does that mean that "Fish and wildlife commission" actually believe or expect a family is going to stand by and watch a wild animal take their family pet because it happens to be on the " Endangered" or protected list? SERIOUSLY??? They need to stop smoking whatever they are on and wake up to reality.


I was out walking my 3 pound girl Chanel. and I heard the screech and looked up and a big hawk was coming down talons extended towards my little girl. I stepped in between her and the hawk and screamed at it " over MY DEAD BODY!" And that bird re-thought it's menu selection.


My husband later said that the hawk could have hurt me...and I said. "Yeah, it probably could have- but I WOULD!!! have KILLED it!" ( and if I had to serve jail time for it- so be it- But I can guarantee the media would have had it as front line news when I got done with it all. That said....


I know two people who have lost pets ( for sure) to hawks. One was a 4 pound rabbit that was allowed to play in the fenced yard they also thought 4 lbs was too heavy to be concerned about and ended up watching the hawk take it from their kitchen window. ( it was a big white rabbit) The other one had a 2.5 pound boston terrier puppy that was following right behind her as they were installing an electronic fence.( less than 6 feet away) The hawk came down and carried off the puppy right in front of her.( and she was screaming her head off too) I know they say a hawk can't carry off a dog weighing more than 4 pounds. But trust me- birds don't have "Scales"to determine weight and they will often go after prey that weighs 7 or 8 pounds- especially if they are planning on dining right there rather than "Take it elsewhere". They don't have to "Carry it off" to severely injure or kill a small dog as Cali's owners found out. And I hate hearing stories like this especially when most people don't even think about a "Bird" being able to carry off a small dog. The fact Cali's owner posted is a good thing. It helps raise awareness about the possibility. So NEVER let your dog under 10 pounds play outside in a large area alone. Also..predators are fast. Don't believe your dog is safe just because they are only a few feet away. My other neighbor was walking her 5 pound dog on a harness leash. The dog was behind her and a hawk came down and tried to grab the dog. She yanked the dog away from the bird with the leash and saved him from being punctured with the talons. But it is a lesson learned. This also happened to a girl in front of us on a trail in Tahoe. A Coyote ran out onto the path grabbed her dog( I think it was a maltese) and took off. The dog was within 5 feet of her and it happened so fast there was nothing any of us could do. The underbrush was so tangled no one could follow. That little dogs screams haunt my nightmares! But had the dog been on a leash- she could have prevented the coyote from taking it away.


Another interesting thing I heard is that hawks need a large area to swoop down and take off again. I was told a small fence enclosed back yard (like less that 12 feet) is small enough to prevent a hawk from being able to dive and elevate properly. I'm not going to test the theory but that does make sense. But even then... owls don't have a problem with small areas. And also remember...many yorkies are smaller than CATS. And a cat can decide your pet resembles a mouse and do just as much damage as a wild animal.


Bottom line is it's better safe than sorry. Never allow your yorkie outside without a leash unless they are 10 pounds. Oh...and any animal predator that tries to snack on a member of MY family...much less one that costs thousands of dollars, will find themselves fertilizing my garden. (endangered list or not!)


And to yorkiemini..I am SOOO SOOOOO glad to hear that your baby survived and seems to be back in the swing of things. God bless " SIRI" and your unflinching willingness to hit the vet without worrying about shoes, and proper attire. You saved your little baby's life. I woulda been running to the vet in my underwear if it would have saved my little one ( granted everyone who saw me probably woulda gone blind-LOL) But I would not have cared. Kudos to you and congratulations on your rapid reponse~

Today the large owl decoy that Yokiemom1 told us about was delivered. I will go to Lowes tomorrow and find a pole to put it up in a way that I can easily move it around every few weeks.

Keep your eyes open -- those Hawks will be nesting soon and looking to feed their young!

Cali has already come to me twice in the last two weeks to tell me to come see the hawk sitting on the power line! She is really tuned in to them. It just really pains me that she is not able to have the run and fun of the yard I own and have to keep up, all because of Hawks!!

I am really concerned about my little male Yorkie (Tuffy) as I live in an elderly apartment complex, so I potty trained him to potty pads in a bathroom. It is a little more work to keep it clean but worth it to protect my baby.......

I shudder reading this, I know we have a few around here, we live on a lake and have a lot of wildlife. We also have tons of oak trees and our squirrel population is huge, everyday there are several sitting on our front lawn feasting and making a mess with the acorns. I always wonder if we had a lot of hawks would they be picking off the squirrels first. I wonder what a squirrel even weighs.

Jay where do you live, it sounds like your area is just full of them, LOL please don't say you are in Oakland Country MI, that's where I am

On a side note not sure what wild turkeys are like, but someone just sent me a photo of 10 of them at the end of my driveway yesterday

I am in Canada and we do have hawks here or at least in my area. We are near to quite a few reserve areas so that might explain why. I am just not sure which kind they are. Last fall, one swooped down very near to Pao (8-9 lbs back then) when we were out on a walk just 2 houses down from mine. Luckily he was on a leash and the houses were situated quite close so I think the hawk doesn't have enough space to swoop all the way down and fly up? Pao was also in a poofy jacket so he might have looked bigger as well?-I don't know but it was a close call. They are so quick that you don't even realize it until you see them!

When I walk him at a school compound near my house, there was also a hawk that will circle us and will gradually circle closer and closer and I usually end up carrying my boy. Not worth risking it. And when I walk him I have to look upwards, scan all over for other dogs, scan the ground for other dog's poop and bunny poop.....ahhhh.....it is a lot.