It was on the other side of one a.m. when the blood-curdling sound of a cat being attacked rang out.
Emilie Thurber, 22, said she awoke out of a sound sleep at her momB次元官网网址檚 place in Chilliwack Thursday night.
Without really thinking about it, she ran out into the street in her pyjamas and bare feet, never expecting the gruesome sight before her.
A pair of coyotes were tugging on either side of the beloved ginger and white cat, Gideon, in the middle of Watson Road. Teeth were attached.
B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檇 been asleep on the couch when I heard the cat scream and it got me up,B次元官网网址 Thurber remembered.
The bizarre scene was like a nightmare B次元官网网址 except she was definitely awake.
B次元官网网址淚t was like they were playing tug-of-war with him,B次元官网网址 said Thurber.
Without really thinking about it, she charged them.
B次元官网网址淭hey saw me running at them and they ran away,B次元官网网址 Thurber recounted.
The coyotes just dropped the cat, surprised.
B次元官网网址淚 think I scared them.B次元官网网址
They then sprinted off into a field nearby.
But not before they inflicted a puncture wound behind the catB次元官网网址檚 ear and a laceration on the forehead that meant six stitches. Gideon broke two teeth and is missing a claw.
B次元官网网址淗e definitely put up a fight,B次元官网网址 Thurber said. B次元官网网址淗e must have chomped down on one of them. HeB次元官网网址檚 such a trooper.B次元官网网址
Because of the vetB次元官网网址檚 concern about possible internal damage from the cat B次元官网网址渂eing rag-dolledB次元官网网址 by the coyotes they put in a drain tube on his neck.
When she found him, the cat was near done. Panting and severely injured.
EmilieB次元官网网址檚 mom, Lee Aubry is convinced the cat is pretty special. He was lost and found at her old address.
Now this.
Aubry said she was asleep through the whole ordeal that has injured and traumatized her five-year-old cat, Gideon. They recently moved from another part of Sardis, after she sold her home and moved to the south side.
B次元官网网址淓milie is my hero,B次元官网网址 Aubry told The Progress. B次元官网网址淪heB次元官网网址檚 a pretty amazing kid. If she hadnB次元官网网址檛 been staying overnight when this happened, my cat would be dead.B次元官网网址
The injuries were severe. Puncture wounds, lacerations, possible internal injuries. Emergency veterinary bills are around $1700 so far. They drove the poor cat to the 24-hour vet in Abbotsford.
But heB次元官网网址檚 alive.
In case anyone wants to suggest GideonB次元官网网址檚 owner should have kept the cat indoors all the time, she said flat out that was impossible.
B次元官网网址淗eB次元官网网址檒l keep the whole house awake all night if we donB次元官网网址檛 let him out,B次元官网网址 Aubry said. B次元官网网址淗e is part Maine Coone and he has a loud meow.B次元官网网址
They donB次元官网网址檛 typically let him out roaming at night, but they were trying to acclimatize the relocated cat.
Of course, there are coyotes everywhere.
B次元官网网址淚 just didnB次元官网网址檛 think it would happen here,B次元官网网址 Aubry said.
Thurber said she was told by a vet tech B次元官网网址 after the fact B次元官网网址 that people who try to run and scoop up pets that are being attacked in situations like the one she faced, sometimes get attacked themselves by wildlife.
B次元官网网址淭hey will even jump up and snatch the animal back from you,B次元官网网址 Thurber said.
She said sheB次元官网网址檚 glad she didnB次元官网网址檛 actually hear about that until she had rescued the cat.
B次元官网网址淚 would probably still have done it,B次元官网网址 Thurber said with a laugh.
B次元官网网址淚 think I would have taken the chance.B次元官网网址
jfeinberg@theprogress.com
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