Police in Reading, Massachusetts, are warning residents after a missing dog was found dead and a coyote was found nearby.
Authorities say the dog, which had been missing for a couple of hours, was found dead by its owner in the Town Forest early this week.
A coyote nearby was scared off by the dog's owner but authorities can't confirm if the animal killed the dog.
As a precaution, police issued some precautions on their Facebook page for pet owners living in the area:
- Keep your dogs on a leash even in areas where you are not required to
- Keep small pets close to you
- Avoid leaving food outside for your pets as this will attract all sorts of animals
- Bird feeders could also draw unwanted animals into your yard
"We are very fortunate to have a large and diverse wildlife population in Reading that has adapted to live among us. But this brings certain increased risks when humans and animals live in such close proximity," read a Facebook post from Reading Police.
Authorities said anyone who sees any type of wild animal acting aggressively should immediately call police.
