Mountain Lion Attacks: California Family Mourns Loss of Beloved Dogs in Daylight Incident

Warning: Video contains graphic content

A family in Southern California is grappling with the heart-wrenching loss of their two beloved dogs, tragically killed in a mountain lion attack at their Yucaipa home early Saturday morning.

Laurie Schultz, who resides on Limekiln Drive, recounted the shocking incident to KTLA, revealing that the mountain lion leaped over their backyard fence between 7:50 and 8:20 a.m. The predator then attacked the family’s cherished pets—a 90-pound husky and a 65-pound Anatolian shepherd—in the clear light of day. The brazen attack was captured by the family’s security cameras, painting a vivid picture of the tragedy.

In a social media post filled with grief, Schultz expressed the heartbreak her family is enduring. “Sad day for the Schultz household,” she wrote. The mountain lion, she noted, not only attacked but returned to carry away the Anatolian shepherd, underscoring the unprovoked nature of the assault and how the dogs appeared to be deliberately targeted.

In response to the incident, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) is actively engaged with the Schultz family. The organization’s biologists are slated to conduct discussions with the family on Monday to delve into the details of the attack.

The CDFW emphasized the unfortunate reality that mountain lion attacks on domestic dogs, including larger breeds, are not rare occurrences. They advise residents to adopt preventative strategies to shield their pets and livestock from such predators. Key recommendations include supervising pets when they are outdoors—particularly during nighttime hours—and ensuring that any animals kept outside have secure enclosures to deter potential threats.

The CDFW offers mountain lion safety tips for residents and their pets through the Human-Wildlife Conflicts Toolkit found on its website.

“We know you have all seen the warnings about keeping your pets inside, but please reach out to people who walk our streets and warn them,” Schultz said, warning other Yucaipa residents about the attack. “Everyone else also be alert and aware.”