Caribou family’s cocker spaniel recuperating after coyote attack

CARIBOU – Gerald Masse’s cocker spaniel was at home Friday recuperating, two days after a run-in with one or possibly two coyotes earlier this week.

The 3-year-old, 25-pound family pet suffered broken ribs and multiple bites and required surgery at the North Country Animal Hospital at Caribou to repair numerous wounds. She is all black and blue from bruises, according to the owner.

Masse had let Molly out around 6 a.m. Wednesday, as he had many times before. He checked on her a few minutes later, but could not see her.

Another few minutes later, he found her in a pool of her own blood.

A sharpshooter called by Game Warden Ed Christie went to the Masse home on Route 1 north of Caribou on Friday morning and will return today to try to find the coyotes hanging around the area.

“I called the vet twice and brought [Molly] down there as soon as she could be seen,” Masse said Friday. “I just could not decide to put her to sleep until we had done everything we could.

“Right now she’s sleeping in the loft,” he said. “She’s all my wife and I have left around now, with everyone gone.”

It has cost the Masses more than $600 so far for surgery, care and medication. The dog will have to be seen several more times by the veterinarian, its owner said. Molly is on pain medication and antibiotics.

When Masse saw Molly on the ground next to the garage that Wednesday morning, he also saw two coyotes. One left when it saw him, and the other did the same after Masse yelled at it.

Masse used towels to comfort his pet while he sought medical assistance. He said it was a traumatic time for the animal and her owners.

“When I got to her, I called her name and she opened her eyes; she was still alive,” he said. “I thought she was dead.

“She was full of blood,” he said. “I brought her into the garage and laid her on a board, still covered with towels.”

The veterinarian had to insert a tube into the dog to drain the blood. While she was resting, Masse said, her chest was “swelled right up.”

Masse described Molly as a fun-loving dog who enjoys playing around the family home. The dog is treated like a family member, he said.

Masse said he saw the coyotes again Thursday, and a lot of tracks were found Friday. Masse said neighbors have been noticing tracks for some time.

Christie said Friday that the area near Masse’s home is full of fresh coyote tracks. He said if this were last year, he could have called a trapper to take care of the problem, he said.

Now that trapping is not allowed, Christie had to call in a sharpshooter to take care of the problem. “The dog is lucky to be alive,” the game warden said. “It’s got some strong will to live.

“She’s got puncture wounds all over her body, head, neck and front shoulders,” Christie said. “Coyotes are getting more and more brazen, like foxes.”

Christie said Masse reported the incident only after someone told him to do so. Most people don’t report such activity, so it is hard to say how often it happens, the game warden said.

This year because of the lack of snow, it has been easy for the coyotes to get around, and family pets are easy prey.

Masse said Friday he was hopeful the sharpshooter would be able to take care of the neighborhood’s problem.

In the meantime, Masse is taking care of Molly, hoping she will get back to her merry self.