Mass. woman says a coyote killed her dog

A Burlington woman, Laura Messing, reported that a coyote killed her 10-month-old dog, Dougal, on July 6, after both dogs were left outside unattended. Dougal was discovered with a broken neck, although there were no visible signs of injury. Messing’s other dog, Daisy, remained unharmed but experienced emotional distress following Dougal's death. Burlington police, after discussions with environmental police, determined there was no threat to public safety. Messing warned fellow pet owners that no fence can sufficiently deter coyotes, given her observations of increased coyote activity in her neighborhood over the years.

She noted fresh coyote tracks near her porch every morning during the winter. Frustrated by the lack of action from Massachusetts Environmental Police, Messing stated that they can only intervene if a human is impacted. While she seeks a humane solution, she holds no ill will towards coyotes unless they enter residential yards.