A wild animal snatched a Kennewick woman’s dog. She thought it was a cougar

A woman who let her small dog off leash in Kennewick Monday night reported that what appeared to be a cougar snatched her pet and carried it off.

Washington state Department of Fish and Wildlife police officers investigated Tuesday and found evidence of a wild animal — but not a cougar.

Evidence suggests that the dog, a 7- to 10-pound terrier-like Affenpinscher, may have been attacked by a coyote.

The attack was reported to the Washington State Patrol about 10:20 p.m. Monday by the woman’s landlord.

The woman had taken her dog outside near Tucannon Avenue, south of Highway 240 as it travels along Columbia Park.

Fish and Wildlife officers searched the area where the dog was last seen on Tuesday and found no cougar markings, but they did find coyote tracks, said Becky Bennett, community outreach liaison for Fish and Wildlife.

There also were drag markings in the dirt.

A cougar likely would be able to pick up such a small dog, but a coyote might drag it, Bennett said.

Fish and Wildlife also received a report after initial news stories of the attack from a person who had seen a coyote in the same area Monday evening.

Fish and Wildlife officers cannot say conclusively what type of animal may have attacked the dog.

It is possible that a cougar could have been moving through the area along the Columbia River, Bennett said.

At least one cougar has been seen this fall not far from where the dog was attacked.

In September, a cougar was hit by a vehicle and found dead on Highway 240 in Kennewick.

Fish and Wildlife asks that anyone who sees dangerous wildlife report it at 877-933-9847 or call 911 if they are in danger.

This story was originally published November 19, 2019 at 12:42 PM.