Pets in fairfax, virginia

WTOP recently reported on the death of a pet dog in Annandale, which officials believe is due to a coyote. The dog (a small Maltese) was outside in the backyard alone, and a coyote had been seen in the area. It's important to monitor small dogs and cats when they are outside, and to keep larger dogs on leash, especially in areas where coyotes have been spotted. As noted in the story by Kevin Rose, a wildlife biologist with Virginia, it's also important to reduce and eliminate attractants in our backyard that can inadvertently lure coyotes close to our houses (open compost piles, unsecured pet food, garbage, etc.), and to haze coyotes so that they remain scared of humans (see our Humans and Coyotes page for more information on hazing and other ways to prevent conflict!). Losing a pet for any reason is painful, and it's up to all of us to help keep both our own pets and our neighbor's pets safe.