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Neighborhood Hires Trappers To Help Catch Coyotes After Pet Attacks

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BOCA RATON (CBSMiami) – Trappers are in a Boca Raton neighborhood Wednesday looking to catch coyotes responsible for at least two pet attacks.

The Home Owner's Association of Timberlake community, where a 9-year-old dog was attacked by a coyote, hired trappers to protect themselves and their pets from the coyotes.

Tuesday morning, Jill Putney was taking her dog Kiwi out for a walk when the pair encountered a coyote.

She said Kiwi suffered deep wounds and cuts. She underwent surgery, got stitched up and is quarantined for months. Putney said Wednesday that Kiwi is better, but still not eating.

Neighbor Chris Lowenthal heard what was happening and rushed to help.

Click here to watch Cynthia Demos' report. 

"I instantly ran outside in my socks and boxer shorts and started running after that coyote," Lowenthal said.

Lowenthal said the coyote dropped Kiwi near some bushes and he scooped her up and took her back to Putney.

Putney said that when Lowenthal carried her back, that the coyote followed him all the way back to her house.

Residents say they've seen coyotes in the neighborhoods over the past two months.

Trappers are hoping to lure the coyotes into traps with frozen chicken.

Paul Zambrano, a wildlife catcher, said he's concerned because the coyotes are being "so brazen taking dogs while people are walking them. They are being aggressive."

Until the coyotes are caught, many neighbors are arming themselves with weapons as they walk in the neighborhood.

"If I see the coyote I have to defend my dog," resident Karen Juarez said. "A coyote approached us the other day and  I walked away slowly and it stopped following us. Now I carry a bat."

In the Boca Winds community, Mark Pinkstone said a coyote ran off with Lola, a Yorkie mix, during a Saturday morning walk. He spoke to the Sun Sentinel.

Lola was not found.

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