She Let Her Dogs Into Backyard; A Moose Nearly Killed One Of Them

ANCHORAGE, AK — A 9-year-old dog is lucky to be alive after a moose jumped a fence into a snowy backyard and attacked the cocker spaniel in the backyard of an Anchorage home. Kim Mahosky told multiple media outlets that she let her dog, Daisy, and her pit bull out on Saturday.

But she didn't know a moose calf was nearby. And she didn't know the calf's mother was, too.

The next thing Mahosky knew, she heard screams.

"I was horrified when I saw the mother moose come charging into my yard over the fence," she told KTVA-TV in an email. "I began yelling and screaming out [at] the dogs and moose it only [took] moments and the whole thing was over. My poor little Daisy laid on the porch shaking with blood pouring from the top of her back."

Video of the attack shows the mother moose stomp on the dog several times. After a few seconds, the battered, beaten and bewildered canine returns to the deck.

Mahosky rushed Daisy to a veterinarian. She had suffered a bad gash 4 inches in length on her back. The attack also tore muscle and fat off Daisy's bone and the vet had to reattach them.

But they were able to save her life. And now, Daisy is recovering in her bed at home.

State wildlife officials say on their website that moose, while not typically aggressive, can become very aggressive, particularly during the winter months. They feel hungry and tire from walking in deep snow, the agency says. They can also become aggressive when harassed by people, dogs, and traffic.

"Dogs surprise moose in backyards, and loose dogs harass them by barking and chasing them," the agency says. "Moose view dogs as enemies and will sometimes go out of their way to kick at one, even if the dog is on a leash or in a fenced yard. Give moose an extremely wide berth if you have a dog with you and don't let your dog chase a moose."

Mahosky is taking the opportunity to warn others about the dangers of wildlife.

"We just have to be careful, careful of your surroundings and people need to be aware of how dangerous they are," she told KTUU-TV.

Photo credit: Michael Smith/Newsmakers