Latest news with #SantaMonicaAnimalControl
Yahoo
17-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Coyote encounters in Santa Monica on the rise in wake of Palisades Fire
Authorities in Santa Monica say that coyote encounters are on the rise within the city, and that is likely thanks to the Palisades Fire. The City of Santa Monica updated their 'How to Live Safely with Urban Coyotes' webpage on May 13 to reflect the increase in coyote sightings within the city, particularly north of Montana Avenue. 'Experts believe this increase is linked to the Palisades Fire, which devastated large areas of the Santa Monica Mountains and displaced numerous wildlife species, including coyotes,' the webpage reads. 'As a result, these animals have ventured deeper into urban neighborhoods in search of food and shelter.' Fuzzy mountain lion cub spends its Friday lounging in a Santa Clarita tree Officials stated that coyotes are 'naturally wary of humans' but are highly adaptable, and while they are normally nocturnal, they may be seen during the day, especially when displaced or during their denning season – February through June. 'Although they typically avoid humans, coyotes may become more bold or visible when they lose access to their natural habitat or food due to events like wildfires, find easy access to food in neighborhoods – such as trash, pet food or rodents – and are unintentionally habituated by human behavior such as feeding them,' Santa Monica officials said. A list of what city residents should do was provided by city officials: Secure all garbage in containers with tight-fitting lids Bring pet food indoors, especially overnight Keep pets inside from dusk until dawn; if outside, supervise them closely (especially small pets) Trim overgrown landscaping that can provide hiding spots for coyotes Santa Monica residents are advised NOT to feed coyotes — since that causes them to lose their natural fear of humans — and are also told to NOT ignore coyotes; instead, residents should do the following: Stay calm and never run Make yourself look larger by raising your arms, standing tall Make loud noises including yelling, clapping, using a whistle or shaking a can of coins Maintain eye contact and slowly back away Report aggressive behavior or high-traffic area sightings by calling Santa Monica Animal Control: 310-458-8595. For more information on coyotes, visit the National Parks Services' 'Coexisting with Coyotes' webpage. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
17-04-2025
- Yahoo
Pit bull owner in fatal dog attack in Santa Monica identified, police say
SANTA MONICA, Calif. - Police have identified the owner of the pit bull that fatally attacked a toy poodle in Santa Monica last week. What we know In a statement, the Santa Monica Police Department said the pit bull owner involved was identified and that the city attorney would evaluate "whether any municipal or criminal violations apply based on the facts presented." SUGGESTED: Owners of small dog killed by pit bull in Santa Monica speak out "We want to be transparent in acknowledging that, under current law, many dog-on-dog attacks and related violations fall under civil or misdemeanor-level offenses. These may include violations of leash laws, failure to control a dangerous animal, or failure to provide information following a dog bite," police said. What we don't know The identity of the pit bull owner was not released. It's unclear if the owner will be charged, or if anything will happen to the pit bull. The backstory According to police, the attack happened on Friday, April 11 around 5:30 p.m. near Main Street and Strand. The small toy poodle, Dublin, was on a walk with its owners, Christopher Dietrick and Allysa Kluge, when the fatal attack happened. SUGGESTED: Santa Monica dog attack: Owner of pit bull sought after toy poodle's killing "This is a walk we take three times a day, it's in our neighborhood, just about a block and a half from our home," said Dietrick. "We're walking home with Dublin and as we were walking, a man was not paying attention.. he was leaned into a passenger side window of a car and his pit bull mix lunged across us, got a hold of our Dublin." Dietrick was also bitten by the pit bull when he tried to intervene. The pit bull's owner fled the scene on foot with the dog, and his image was captured by security cameras, police said. Witnesses reported the owner and dog ran into an apartment building in the Ocean Park neighborhood. What they're saying Allysa Kluge called the pit bull's owner a "coward," saying the responsibility as a pet owner is to take care of your pet from hurting you and other people, other animals - something "this gentleman failed." "He had a responsibility to hold that pit bull tight, to hold him and pay attention, and he did not. We had our Dublin on a leash. He had his dog on a leash. He was not paying attention." Kluge said she first got Dublin more than 11 years ago - on St. Patrick's Day - when he was a puppy at 10-weeks-old. What you can do For animal safety concerns or to report an incident, please contact Santa Monica Animal Control at (310) 458-8595. The Source Information for this story is from the Santa Monica Police Department and an interview with Allysa Kluge and Christopher Dietrick on April 14, 2025.
CBS News
14-04-2025
- CBS News
Police looking for owner of pit bull that killed small poodle in Santa Monica
Police are searching for the owner of a pit bull that attacked and killed a toy poodle dog in Santa Monica on Friday evening. Christopher Dietrick and Alyssa Kluge are the owners of Dublin, the 11-year-old toy poodle that was killed. They've put up signs all over the city hopeful that someone will be able to point them in the right direction. The attack happened at around 5:30 p.m. near the intersection of Main Street and Strand Street, close to the beach, according to the Santa Monica Police Department. Surveillance video from the scene shows bits of the incident, which happened for almost a minute, all of which Dietrick said he was fighting to save their beloved dog. "As we were walking with our toy poodle, that pit bull lunged and got a hold of our baby. There was a big struggle, it was pretty gruesome," he said. "I just kept punching and punching and punching." They say that they were walking by a man, holding the pit bull on a leash, while he talked to a man inside of a car parked in the street. When they finally pulled the pit bull off of Dublin, the other owner fled with his dog in tow, running north on Main Street. At the same time, the driver of the white sedan that the unknown dog owner was talking to jumped out of the car and began to pick up what Dietrick and Kluge said was a wade of cash that scattered during the dog attack. "It happened so fast and it was so loud and then all of a sudden, everyone started screaming that he was taking off and he started running," Dietrick said. A Good Samaritan that was parked nearby rushed the couple to a nearby veterinarian's emergency room. "We came closer and we saw this guy sitting on the ground, his arms around a dog and the woman next to him screaming," the woman said. "My girlfriend said, 'There's no way he could be alive.' And we said, 'Maybe, maybe, maybe.'" Dublin ultimately died, suffering wounds that proved to be fatal. "He died in my arms ... I've had him since he was nine weeks old, named him Dublin cause I got him on St. Patrick's Day," Kluge said. "He is our son and losing a pet is horrific, obviously, but in the violent way that we experienced it if feels like it's going in the back of my eyelids, that's all I can see." Dietrick also sustained a bite wound during the chaos. Police say that the pit bull, formally known as a Staffordshire Terrier, was gray-and-white. Anyone who knows more is urged to contact Santa Monica Animal Control at (310) 458-8595.
Yahoo
14-04-2025
- Yahoo
Toy poodle killed in dog attack in Santa Monica; pit bull's owner sought
The Brief Police are asking for help to identify the owner of a gray and white pit bull involved in a fatal dog bite incident. It happened on April 11 near Main Street and Strand in Santa Monica. The pit bull attacked a toy poodle, resulting in the poodle's death, and also bit the poodle's owner who tried to intervene. SANTA MONICA, Calif. - The Santa Monica Police Department is asking for the public's help to identify the owner of a pit bull involved in a fatal attack that resulted in the death of a toy poodle. What we know The attack happened Friday, April 11 around 5:30 p.m. near Main Street and Strand, according to police. That's where a gray and white pit bull attacked a small toy poodle, causing fatal injuries. The poodle's owner was also bitten while trying to intervene, police said. What we don't know Surveillance video showing the pit bull and its owner was released by police in an effort to help identify him. The owner's condition is not known. It's unclear what prompted the attack. What you can do Anyone with information is asked to contact Santa Monica Animal Control at (310) 458-8595. The Source Information for this story is from an Instagram post by the Santa Monica Police Department on Saturday, April 12, 2025.
