Kristy Addison wants to find the people who saved her and her little dog from a coyote attack.
It happened around 9:30pm on Wednesday, June 29, during the last leg of Addison’s evening walk with her dog, Cena, south of Robertson Crescent at 244th Street in Langley’s Aldergrove community, about a five-minute walk from her home.
She noted that cattle at a farm on the west side of 244th Street were nervous, “very vocal and acting oddly around their calves.”
“Cena and I walked to the east side of 244th Street and figured that maybe her look or smell would startle the cattle,” Addison said.
“At that moment, a pack of coyotes came out of the ditch right in front of the cattle station.”
There were three of them and they started walking in her direction.
Addison began to back away, concerned that the coyotes would view Cena as prey.
When one of them charged at her, she yelled back “while trying to puff up to appear taller and stare him down and challenge his dominance as I wasn’t scared at that point.”
It did not work. As the coyotes approached, she picked up her dog.
After she had Cena on her shoulders, one of the coyotes that attacked her in the first place started snapping at her legs.
“I tried to kick him and get back up while still screaming as low and harshly as I could.”
“The coyote has now marked my leg and pants with his mouth at least three times [to] four times. And I have heart pain as my heart is pounding and I’m starting to absolutely panic in pure fight or flight mode and I’m clearly in shock.”
Just then, a darker colored SUV arrived at the scene and headed north on 244th toward Addison and her dog.
“Within seconds, the oncoming vehicle sped away [most agressive] Coyote off the road and pulled up alongside Cena and I, not knowing exactly what happened but knowing that we just had a pretty bad run-in with some Coyotes and were fighting for our lives and running when they encountered us. “
The elderly couple in the SUV opened their back door to escort Addison and Cena to safety.
“I just kept saying, ‘Thank you, thank you! God bless you! You are nothing short of heavenly messengers and heroes!’”
The couple told Addison that a group of coyotes had entered the Pomeranian years ago on Robertson Crescent and they have not roamed the area after dinner or dusk since, a rule Addison intends to follow.
She escaped her “terrifying and definitive near-death experience” with a few holes in her pant leg and a minor bruise on her leg.”
Addision, who was not given the names or contact information of her rescuers at the time, has gone public in hopes of locating her.
“I will never be able to repay you for your heroic action which undoubtedly saved a life,” Addison said, “but I hope one day to be able to put a name to the faces that saved my beloved dog’s life and possibly my own.” . ”
ALSO READ: Coyote Sightings in Langley ‘Not a Public Safety Issue,’ Says Conservation Officer
The lower mainland is home to an estimated 2,000 to 3,000 urban coyotes, according to the BC SPCA, who migrated to the area in the 1980s.
If you see a coyote, the SPCA advises shooing it away by yelling, stamping your feet, and waving your arms.
“Make a lot of noise and try to look tall. This may feel silly, but it helps the coyote avoid future problems. Teach children how to shoo away a coyote when they see one, but never throw anything at the animals.”
ALSO READ: VIDEO: Coyote killed after attacking 3 people, including children, in Stanley Park overnight
Coyotes aren’t generally dangerous to humans, the SPCA said, but some lose their fear when fed and may attack small pets or unattended young children.
This may have been a factor in a recent series of incidents involving coyotes in Vancouver’s Stanley Park in December 2020 and January 2021.
Two coyotes had to be euthanized after about 13 people were chased around Brockton Oval and Hollow Tree near Prospect Point in Stanley Park, and some were bitten so badly they needed medical attention.
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