The community of Sylmar is on alert after a mountain lion attacked and killed a pet pitbull while out on a walk with her owners, a neighborhood notice confirmed.
In the early morning hours of Sunday, August 11, the owners and the rescued pit bull — named Gigi — were on a walk in their neighborhood when the mountain lion attacked. The incident occurred in the area of Foothill Blvd. and Glenoaks Blvd. in the Oakridge Mobile Home Park, the notice stated.
It’s a stark reminder that mountain lions are plentiful in California, and even in urban areas, it’s important to be vigilant.
Rey Constante captured images of the scene from his vehicle while driving by. Be aware the images may be disturbing.
Mark Rulon, the founder of Southern California Pit Bull Rescue, fostered Gigi before she was later placed with her owners.
In a post that has since been edited, Rulon said that Gigi didn’t appear to have any obvious signs of trauma but that it appeared the mountain lion may have killed her instantly by snapping her neck. He also shared an image of Gigi.
Rulon said Gigi’s adoptive owner claimed that he had been out on a walk with Gigi when the mountain lion attacked and that he tried to kick the big cat but ended up running for help. He also made some critical comments concerning the owner’s actions during and after the event.
“My family and I would like to extend our extreme appreciation of the outpouring of love we’ve received over the unfortunate killing of Gigi by a mountain lion. Gigi was such an amazing little girl that just loved to lick anyone that was within reach of her tongue. Her loss hits extremely hard as she wasn’t ill,” Rulon wrote on Facebook.
Safety Measure When Recreating in Mountain Lion Country
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) did not release any statement in the wake of the incident. Past attacks in California — including a mountain lion entering a backyard and attacking a family dog — do not by rule instigate the search, capture, or euthanization of the predator.
Big cat hunting is a hot-button issue and will even come before voters in Colorado this fall.
CDFW does offer recommendations on ways to stay safe and avoid negative mountain lion interactions. Some of the recommendations include:
- Avoid hiking, biking, or jogging alone — or at dawn, dusk, or at night.
- Deer-proof your property to avoid attracting a lion’s main food source.
- Remove dense vegetation from around the home to reduce hiding spaces.
- Install outdoor lighting to make it difficult for mountain lions to approach unseen.
- Secure livestock and outdoor large pets in sturdy, covered shelters at night.
This is not the first dog killed in California in recent years, with incidents happening in both 2023 and 2022.
