Coyote Snatches RI Woman's Dog From Backyard: 'I Keep Reliving It'

CRANSTON, RI — A Cranston woman is warning area pet owners to keep a careful eye on their pets after a coyote snatched her dog while they were in their backyard on Sunday, according to a report.

Terri Iannotti told NBC 10 that she let her 14-year-old Pekingnese, Meko, out for her nightly bathroom break when a coyote darted into the yard and ran off with the dog.

"I saw it happen, and I wish I didn't see it happen," Iannotti told NBC 10. "We were on a long chain and all of a sudden I got yanked and I looked, and a coyote just grabbed (her) and started running with my dog in her mouth. When (the coyote) was running off, it was as if Meko was saying to me, 'Why aren't you saving me?'"

Iannotti never found the coyote or Meko, whom Iannotti adopted after her husband's death in 2018.

"I can't sleep. I can't eat because I keep reliving it in some way that I couldn't save her," Iannotti told NBC 10.

According to the Rhode Island Division of Fish & Wildlife, eastern coyotes can be found throughout the state, in rural and urban areas alike. Increased exposure to humans has emboldened some coyotes, making them more likely to search for food in suburban and urban neighborhoods.

If a coyote injures or kills a pet while on a leash, Rhode Island wildlife officials encourage owners to report the incident to authorities. The coyote will be euthanized and tested for rabies.

Find more information on how to identify and report coyotes in Rhode Island communities.