“When coyotes become aggressive, it is usually because someone has been feeding them,” Irving Chan said. In November, Ellie, a teacup poodle was snatched and killed by a coyote in Vancouver’s Point Grey area, and several other attacks were reported on the Jericho Beach Park trails.Ĭoyotes are a fairly recent arrival to Vancouver, said Madeleine Irving Chan, the Co-existing with Coyotes program co-ordinator with the Stanley Park Ecology Society, who has tips to keep people, pets and coyotes safe.
The vests are popping up all over North America, in part, because coyotes live in every major urban centre. Within months, sales had gone through the roof. When Mott’s creations got noticed in the neighbourhood, he started selling them online ().
The whiskers make the dog look so strange they don’t look like food.” “I started thinking:‘How can we freak the coyote out and make him not even want to bite?’ Scare him. The vests are a lightweight Kevlar that coyotes can’t sink their teeth through, and include modular units of hard plastic spikes that can be added around the neck and back. So I started thinking about the coyote vest.” I yelled and screamed and did everything I could, but we never saw her again.” “I turned around and saw my little dog Buffy in the jaws of a coyote. Back in 2014, Mott was at a dog park with his three small dogs, when he heard a yelp.
#COYOTE VEST SOFTWARE#
The vests are the brainchild of San Diego-based Paul Mott, a former software developer. But the Kevlar vests are remarkably effective in protecting small pooches from predators such as coyotes, owls and even bears. The brightly coloured body armour for dogs features spiked collars and high, flexible whiskers that make Chloe and Henry look something like neon punk rockers. Her dog walker suggested she get a coyote vest. Three came running up my street, including one very aggressive male.”Ĭhloe and Henry are 20 pounds each, about snack-size for coyotes. “We had one in the backyard, my neighbour had one in her garage. “They are rampant in my neighbourhood,” said Boyd, who lives in West Vancouver. The jacket is durable, defending areas most likely targeted during attacks, but it is also lightweight and comfortable for your pooch.VANCOUVER - Cynthia Boyd’s two French bulldogs, Chloe and Henry, loved to play in her fenced backyard every morning - until Boyd saw a coyote hop neatly over the fence and stroll around her swimming pool. The vest comes with removable spikes that can be attached to the neck, sides, and back, but it can also be accessorized with other products to create a protective armor your dog can rock. This pioneering product is made with Kevlar capable of withstanding sharp teeth. The viral images of dogs wearing bright, spiky jackets with mohawks all started with this basic coyote vest. If your dogs have rock 'n' roll hearts that beat for heavy metal, adding a little punk rock pizzaz to their wardrobe is an added bonus. Having a dog fence around your yard and supervising your pet when they go outside are also helpful prevention measures that can protect your dog from various types of dangerous encounters. "Making a lot of noise is usually all it takes for coyotes to run away," Wright said, but pet owners can take additional steps to prevent coyotes from venturing into their neighborhoods by eliminating outside food sources. The anti-coyote jackets slow or prevent surprise attacks and give pooch parents precious time to rescue their pets. "A coyote attacking a dog or cat could be injured during the hunt, so they are probably desperate at that point if they are going to risk hurting themselves for a meal." "Coyotes' usual prey is much smaller than them," Wright said. Those colorful whiskers aren't just hilarious, they're life-saving fixtures that make small dogs look larger and more threatening. Protective vests made with bite-resistant material work best when dogs are outside unsupervised, Wright said. Coyote attacks are rare, but percentages don't matter if it's your pet that gets hurt. Small dogs, as well as cats, could be considered prey for coyotes, said veterinarian Benjamin Wright, DVM, at the Lakewood Vet Center in Dallas.
Although it may look like they're headed to a punk rock concert, they're actually protecting themselves from coyotes, birds of prey, and potentially other dogs. Coyote vests for dogs have amassed a faithful following online with their spiky neon jackets and rainbow mohawks.
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