A fourth dog was killed during a coyote attack in Altadena Sunday.
Diane and Verne Williams' dog Abby went out to the backyard early Sunday morning through a doggie door, according to their daughter, Bethany Williams.
Around 6:30 a.m., she found the dog, a Bichon Frise, dead, with bite marks to its neck.
Williams, who also lives in the house located on the 2300 block of North Braeburn, said she was surprised the coyotes were able to attack since their entire backyard is enclosed in a five-foot high fence.
Neighbors reported seeing coyotes wandering the area in packs late at night, according to Williams. She said this wasn't the first time her parents encountered problems.
"A year ago they had two dogs that got into a scrape with coyotes. Fortunately somebody saw them in the yard and got my father and chased them away before any damage was done," Williams said.
Altadena residents have been on edge since July, after a series of attacks killed three dogs in the 1100 block of Mendocino Street. As many as 13 coyote sightings were reported to the Sheriff’s Department at that time.
Animal experts believe recent fires and hot weather may have forced them from nearby hills to go looking for food.
"I think maybe they're denning in the area because of the burn area," David Britt, a local resident, said last month. "I go hiking up here and when you get past that ridge there's 250 square miles of nothing."
Residents are advised to keep a watchful eye on their pets and to keep them indoors as much as possible.
"I would love it if the authorities could do some action—get rid of this problem with these coyotes," said Vern Williams, "so that I could feel better about going and getting another dog at some point in the future."
