Lake Arrowhead Almanac 2012 - Mountain News

Protect
Your Pets
Living on the mountain sometimes requires thinking about
things you’d never consider when living down the hill.
It’s important to remember we cohabitate with wildlife and
are in their backyard, which sometimes is our own as well. You’ve
got to know what measures to take in order to keep your pets safe.
Coyotes are natural predators and serve a purpose in their
environment. Though there can be problems when humans and
coyotes live in the same space, the number of issues can be greatly
reduced by taking preventative measures to protect a pet and
make the area around the home unattractive to coyotes.
Pets make ideal meals for coyotes, and as coyotes have
adapted to residential areas, they have become less fearful
of humans and unafraid to attack small animals if given the
opportunity. The best way a pet owner can protect a pet is by
keeping the pet inside when unable to supervise the animal.
This is especially crucial for small pets, such as cats and small
dogs, which can make easier targets for coyotes. Large dogs
must be monitored too because they can be injured during
a fight with a roaming coyote.
All animals should be brought in for the night or kept in
a protective kennel after dark. Because pets should remain inside,
their food and water should come inside with them. Coyotes
will eat pet food, and leaving it out only serves to attract
wildlife to the home.
When walking your dog, it’s a good idea to bring
a walking stick or something that will make a
lot of noise. Keep your pet on a short leash and,
if it’s off the leash, make sure it stays close so you have time
to react if a coyote approaches.
If a coyote approaches, make a lot of noise to scare it
away, and make eye contact, yell, throw pebbles or pine cones
in the general direction of the coyote, but don’t hurt it. Trying
to look big and intimidating also helps.
Remember, this is the animals’ natural habitat, and in order
to share the environment, it’s important to keep safety in
mind—the safety of your pet and that of the wildlife that makes
living on the mountain so unique and enjoyable.
Here is some important information to have:
The Arrowhead Animal Hospital is open Monday through
Friday from 7:30 a.m.to 5 p.m., 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday,
closed on Sunday. Boarding facilities for cats and
dogs are available. It is located at 27244 Highway 189 in
Blue Jay. The office number is (909) 336-6800; after-hours
emergencies are referred to Animal Emergency Clinic located
in Grand Terrace at (909) 825-9350.
The Rimforest Animal Hospital is open Monday through
Saturday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., closed Sunday. They provide
after-hours emergency services as well as boarding for cats
and dogs. It is located at 1299 Bear Springs Road in Rimforest.
The office number is (909) 337-8589.
San Bernardino County Animal Control: (800) 472-5609.
Visit www.sbcounty.gov/acc for information.
California Department of Fish & Game: Inland Deserts Regional
office, (909) 484-0167. Visit www.dfg.ca.gov for
information.
Lake Arrowhead Almanac • 2012
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