West Hartford Dog Fighting For Life After Christmas Eve Coyote Attack
WEST HARTFORD, CT — A West Hartford family is urging pet owners to be vigilant about a serious threat to their furry friends following a horrific Christmas Eve in their neighborhood.
“Piper,” the Bourgoin family pet, is fighting for her life after being mauled by a pack of coyotes in their Garland Road neighborhood last Tuesday, Dec. 24.
According to Piper’s owner, Magdalena “Maggie” Bourgoin, her family’s beloved pet is still fighting for her life at a veterinary hospital in West Hartford, with further medical procedures necessary and veterinary bills piling up.
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She told Patch she wanted to tell her story so other pet owners, especially those locally, can keep their animals safe and not endure the horrific Christmas they did last week.
“I wanted to share a recent experience that I hope will encourage all of us to take extra precautions when it comes to our pets and wildlife in our area,” Bourgoin said.
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She described what happened on Christmas Eve as a “vicious attack” and it happened at about 8 p.m. that night.
“The coyotes took my dog out of our yard, dragged it across the street, and was pretty much eating it,” Bourgoin said.
Bourgoin said she and her husband Bruce Bourgoin got Piper to help their daughter deal with some personal difficulties in her life, including being hit by a car twice.
Now, the Bourgoins are hoping their furry friend can pull through and, they said, they will do whatever is necessary to help her do just that.
Maggie Bourgoin said Piper is the first dog she’s ever had.
“I love Piper for being her and what she did for my daughter and my family. She belongs to our Bourgoin pack. We love her so much,” said Maggie Bourgoin.
Bourgoin’s daughter has set up a GoFundMe page to help the family pay for the extensive veterinary bills, which approach $7,000, to keep Piper alive.
Meanwhile, Bourgoin discussed some details about what happened that night, details that are not for the faint of heart.
According to Bourgoin, it all started with a call from a neighbor.
“My neighbor called and said that Piper is in trouble. I looked outside and she was lying across the street under the street light with coyotes biting on her. She was not moving,” Bourgoin said.
“After screaming, the coyotes dragged my dog to the darkness behind my neighbor’s house, but we were already running towards the coyotes, so a coyote dropped my dog’s body and ran away.”
The family picked up Piper and rushed her to the local animal hospital.
Then they called West Hartford Animal Control and the West Hartford Police Department to report the incident, something they said was difficult given that it was Christmas Eve.
She said the family did receive a call back on Christmas Day and reports were filed.
Bourgoin said the family was told that this time of year is mating season for coyotes and they can become more aggressive as a result.
She has since learned that coyotes have become increasingly more visible in her neighborhood.
“it’s crucial that we remain vigilant,” Bourgoin said. “I urge everyone to be cautious when letting their pets outside, especially during dawn and dusk, when coyotes are most active. Keeping dogs on a leash and supervising them while outdoors can make a significant difference in keeping them safe.”
Meanwhile, Bourgoin is asking people to stop feeding wildlife, as it can attract them and bring them closer to their residences.
“While it may seem harmless to offer food to stray animals or even wildlife like coyotes, it only attracts more of them into our neighborhoods, which increases the risk of confrontations with our pets,” she said.
“It’s important to remember that feeding them only disrupts their natural behavior and creates dangerous situations for ourselves and our animals.”
In addition, Bourgoin is hoping people ask the town for animal-proof garbage cans, with many creatures — such as coyotes, bears, etc. — attracted to trash mistaking it as a food source.
“Our town should take steps to prevent wildlife from becoming more of a threat,” she said
“It takes a village to protect a community, but our town should be investing in animal-proof garbage cans. These cans are designed to prevent wild animals from accessing food scraps and could significantly reduce the appeal of our neighborhood to coyotes and other wildlife like bears. I hope to work together as a community to make our streets safer for people and pets.”
Bourgoin said if residents work together with the town, what happened to her family on Christmas Eve won’t happen to others.
Said Bourgoin, “I want everyone to know this is devastating.”
For more information on coyotes in Connecticut, including how to avoid them, click on this link.
To donate to the Bourgoin’s GoFundMe page, click on this link.
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