Dog disappears, hungry hawk blamed

A family that dropped off their tiny pet dog at a kennel near Orlando returned to find it gone, local6.com reports The manager at Pet Lodge in Oveido said the Gusler family's dog, May, was left in a fenced yard for a couple of minutes and when the dog walker returned May was gone. The kennel has high fences, no holes in the yard and no outside access, so employees said there is only one explanation — one of the hawks in the area carried the dog off. Pet Lodge plans to put mesh wire across the top of the back yard fences to protect the dogs from large birds.

Comments

[FogHorn Leghorn]

I say, I say, that was a, that was a tasty dog!

[Pete]

I smell a lawsuit coming.

[Eric]

Poor dog. People leed to remember that little dogs look like food to hawks, alligators, etc., here in FL. You must keep them safe.

[wilma]

Live and let live. In florida even if someone is negligent why sue?
We are all Christians and must forgive Gross Negligence.

Money does not solve problems nor do lawsuit...

We all live in Paradise {Florida} isn't that enough. Forgiveness is contagious...GOD BLESS FLORIDA

[Drew]

Sounds like the kennel somehow lost the dog and are trying to blame a hawk. Maybe they stepped on it?
That dog would have to be awfully small for a hawk to carry away. Most hawks only weigh 1-3 lbs themselves. A big kill they usually eat in place. Anyone that owns a dog that a hawk could catch in the first place is just silly anyway.

[harry]

Probably not a hawk unless the dog was no bigger than a rat. If indeed it was a bird that took off with it the only possibility is an eagle

[David]

Let me guess, Now all our friends from the north will want to start killing all the hawks also. Welcome to florida.Now stop killing everything!

[Vikki]

This story is quite plausible one evening I saw an owl swoop down and try to pick up my neighbors toy poodle. I was amazed and chased it away. A few days later I found a dead owl in my yard.... only explanation my cat killed it... When they began destoying areas around my home it was not unusual to see florida panthers slinky around in the evening as well to build more and more condo's in the Pinellas Point area.

Another case of FLOR-U-DUHHH

SO MANY IDIOTS SO LITTLE TIME.

ID SAY PUT THE DOG WALKER IN A POND AND SEE WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THE GATURS EAT HER UP MMM TASTES LIKE CHICKEN!

[LP]

Hey Wilma...SPEAK FOR YOURSELF!! You sound a little creepy to me!

[Sam]

This is a sad story! I have two little dogs (4 lbs each) and am always cautious when we are outside! The hawks in FL are strong enough to pick up small dogs and carry them away!

Wilma get back in your padded room How'd you escape??

[Carol, St Pete]

Betcha didn't know we've become Micky D's for the hawks; all them tasty Doves, Squirrels and Blue Jays. I love Florida, where you can bird watch preditors from your living room window. Speaking of Blue Jays, last week one of my local hawks caught one of them big daddies, and he couldn't take off till the snack stopped struggling. I'm thinking a dog struggles more than a Blue Jay. Makes me wonder. Let's experiment, we'll put Shatner's hairpiece and a camera in that fenced area and see what happens.

Without knowing the size of the mutt, this hawk claim sounds very bogus. More likely there was a gap in the fence, a gate left open, or even stolen if the breed is worth anything.

[Dave]

Even though I'm a dog lover (but I will admit to not being overly fond of small dogs though), all I can say is:

FOOD CHAIN BABY!!

[brandan]

how do you mistake a dog for food???

that must have been a stupid bird!!!

i'm hungry

[ricardo]

Why Why???????

[TODD]

BRANDON... You are not to smart I see. A small dog, is food to a hawk! The fact that a dog is domesticated means nothing to a wild animal!... a meal is a meal!

[Todd]

For all of you who also believe that this is not possible, this is straight from the Florida Wildlife Departments webpage!...

Red-tailed hawks will eat any animal that is raccoon-sized or smaller, even pets. 85% of their diet is made up of mammals, like mice, squirrels, and rabbits.

[Dave]

Oh yeah, sounds like a hawk, or an osprey, or an eagle. Heck, maybe it was a gator or a really hungry yankee. Come to think of it, he may have fell in a sink hole or went to Tallahassee to apologize for his role in slavery. Send the owner to the local chinese joint, you just never know. Singing: "How much is that doggie on the entree?" Ahem, excuse me. I mean, Homer ate his pet lobster with extra butter. R.I.P little doggie, you really did "get along".

[Dawn]

Oh by the way Dave didn't mention it could have been a shark. But I just wanted to tell Wilma that while the Ten Commandments do say "Thou shalt not kill" nowhere do they say "Thou shalt not eat" even small pets. I think it is a conspiracy between Walt Disney, Big Oil and slave traders, guess someone should apologize and offer reperations of course. Any ideas Governor Crist?.....or did you steal the dog?

[Dennis]

Really now, if a hawk can swoop off with it, should it really even be considered a real dog?! Might as well have a pet rat on a leash.

[Dave]

Dennis, it may have been a rat. I mean with all the exotic pets in Florida one just never knows. Actually, did the dog really exist or is this all a strange dream or a pollution induced hallucination. I'm betting on the pollution, but what do I know? I hear their trading dogs for You-Tube access in Beijing. Heck, we send China everything else, why not our pets?

[Garfield]

Urrrppp!

Sorry, my cage full of Condors got out...

[Sue]

You are all a bunch of sicko's! These people lost a pet they lost and it is the fault of the kennel. If you care enough about your pet to put it in a kennel to be kept safe, then all you idiots need to have a little less to say about it. How would you people like it if it was a one of your children or something/someone you cared about? Just another example of "red neck" stupidity!

[Maureen]

The world class southern stupidity of "men" never ceases to amaze me !! Look at the comments made by the males on this site with an IQ equal to their shoe size. These quote people should scare you...because if they have no compassion for a helpless animal, then read up on the makings of a serial killer !!!

[Maureen]

If you have nothing nice to say...
KEEP YOUR PIE HOLE CLOSED...OBVIOUSLY YOU NEVER OWNED A PET !!!

[Susan]

I AGREE WITH YOU MAUREEN...ALL I CAN SAY IS, "DITTO"

[Robert]

I have seen a hawk take off with a decent sized gopher tortoise. It dropped it of course, but flew back around and picked it back up. Tortoise was about as big as the hawks body.

[Carol]

Yeah Darwin - That's what I'm talking about. Survival of the fitest. Hawk - 1, Rat dog - 0

[Splinter]

Sue,

Once again someone has to compare a pet to a person or a child. Not the same at all. Why is it that if a dog gets hit by a car crazy pet freaks will raise $20,000 to save it and have it walk around the rest of its life with wheels for back legs.... but if a human gets struck by a car... tough luck.. no one gives a darn. You pet nuts care more about animals then you do for your fellow humans. I feel bad for the pet owner... but other than refunding the cost to buy a new dog and making changes to protect future ones... i don't think the kennal should have to pay out big bucks.

[Rodger]

The people called the dog MAY, the hawk called the dog DINNER. the hawk was doing what it has to to survive. are they going to hunt down the hawk and move it to another lacation same as they would a gator?

[CP]

Good for the hawk. The hawk deserves to eat also. I hate little dogs anyway. They are always barking and biting.

[Maureen]

Dear Splinter...as a RESPONSIBLE pet owner myself, and responsible being the key word, people have to do the thinking for animals--to keep them safe from harm. People on the other hand, have a brain, supposedly, and can take care of themselves !! This kennel was at fault, whether someone left this dog for one half a second or one minute, they need to be held liable. OH Splinter...did you get your name because this is something that keeps your head from collapsing in on itself

[Egg Foo Young]

Before you go blaming it on the hawk, check the local Chinese joints. Do you really think the chicken on a stick is really chicken?

[Splinter]

Maureen,

Thanks for the Personal bashes that you took against me... As you can recall, my message did not take personal shots at anyone. Accidents happen, they are part of life. This dog died because of an unfortunate set of events but that does not justify a lawsuit. People take pets WAY to seriously. In some parts of the country you are not even a pet owner any longer... you are called a "Pet Guardian". These are animals, now human beings and shouldn't be treated as such. Repeat after me..."Accidents happen... Accidents happen... Accidents happen..."

[robert]

How can a hawk taking a dog be the fault of anyone? Is the owner/walker/kennel supposed to stand over the tog with an umbrella? Typical of the liberals to blame someone for something they could not control!
Get a life and find something real to whine about please!

[Maureen]

Splinter, I can picture you in my mind, a wormy little individual who does nothing but sit in front of your computer and offer your two cents. Accidents DO happen, however, when someone places their animal in the care of an ANIMAL CARE FACILITY they should at least expect that their animal is coming home and AT LEAST is going to be safe from harm !! I'll bet it was an idiot like you that walked away and let that poor little thing be taken and hopefully the family sues the HELL out that facility...maybe someone else won't loose their pet !!

[sarah]

How funny. Coyotes, hawks, gators, all here naturally. Domestic dogs, humans, all here because, why? And, to the person slamming us rednecks. I think that's a racist comment. Go back North, damyankee

[mike]

Wilma: What world are you living in, that we are all Christians? Sounds like you are either old and out of touch or just narrow minded.

[Rodger]

The article never mentioned lawsuit. Only a snibling little shitzu would even consider sueing over a $35 dog. they can go down to the pound and get a used dog for someone else to take care of for them.

[Ping's Palace]

FRIDAY SPECIAL: PUPPY SOUP (real good taste like chicken)

[Dam Yankee]

Ping's Palace - puppy soup? Sounds like you have indulged yourself! I know, it was you who let the dog out!

Rodger - "snibling" shitzu? Learn how to spell before you comment. Sounds like you have experience with "dumping" or "neglecting" animals.

Sarah - You are correct in assuming I am from the north. After all, aren't most people here in Florida? You "red necks" are a dying breed. Get over it.

[Maureen]

Sara...if you bothered to re-read the comment you just made, you sound like a inbred Redneck with maybe an 8th grade education, and I'm trying to be gracious, proving once again that laughable southern mentality. I suspect your the BETTER half of most of the bozos commenting on this site.

[diane brooks]

Some of you pepoles comments make me sick.Like This one. i say that was a tasty dog .Or, food chain baby. If you lived on my street had falling doun couldn't get up .I would pray for one of these birds to get you . Maybe even pull the car out, ops didn't see ya. That black and white papillon is soooo , i have to many nice words And loving. I don't think that is what happen to the dog . These dogs are hard to find and big bucks you will pay.You just don't find them in shealters. I have a 6 lb. black& white peek a pom. I have to watch her evey were i go . Every one adores her. If i go on a trip she can't go . we don't go. I just can't comperhead. Someone telling me we don't have your Gizmo Mrs brooks.

[diane brooks]

puppy soupe. My words for you are. nothing .You don't have a brain. And i can just bet you tast like S---. Dog S is to good for you.