http://news.scotsman.com/latest.cfm?id=3597146
Thu 7 Oct 2004
6:43pm (UK)
Mother Fights off Hawk to Save Dog
By Alison Purdy, PA News
A mother-of-two spoke today of her terror as she battled to prevent a giant bird of prey carrying off the family’s pet puppy.
Sophie Patterson, 37, of Ely, Cambridgeshire, was walking Alfie, a 20-week-old Border Terrier cross, with her two daughters Anna, 11, and Lucy, eight, when a Harris Hawk swooped down from a tree and locked its talons around the small dog’s body.
As the bird lifted Alfie from the ground Mrs Patterson grabbed hold of him and took part in a tug-of-war with the bird.
Mrs Patterson managed to fight off the hawk and rescue Alfie from its clutches.
“It was really scary. We were all terrified and the girls were screaming.
“The bird swooped down and picked Alfie up from the ground. I was holding on to his body and so the bird was only a couple of inches away from my face.
“The bird was pecking at the dog’s head. It definitely could have killed him,” she said.
Mrs Patterson said luckily Alfie escaped with only a couple of minor cuts and a small hole in the top of his head.
The attack happened last Thursday evening on a field, close to Davison Road.
Mrs Patterson said the bird was being exercised by its owner when the attack happened and she said she feared the bird would strike again and may even attack a child.
“I want to warn people about it so that it doesn’t happen again.
“It wasn’t the bird’s fault as it was just doing what nature intended but people who keep birds of prey should keep better control of them when they are being exercised,” she said.
Mrs Patterson said Alfie was back to full health after being treated with antibiotics.
Reply With Quote
something like that happened to me once
Bookmarks