A couple from the Rigaud area says their dog was killed by a coyote on Monday night and they're speaking out to warn people about what could happen while taking a walk in the woods.
"I never thought something like this could happen on the trails of Mont Rigaud," said Marilyne Archambault in an interview with CJAD 800.
Archambault said her four-year-old Shetland Sheepdog, Cannelle was off leash and out of sight for only a few moments as she and her spouse were walking along the trail.
Archambault said they heard their dog cry and howl. She said when her spouse got to Cannelle first, he found a coyote with Cannelle's neck in the grip of its jaws.
Archambault said the coyote didn't run when her spouse arrived or when she came shortly after. The coyote retreated when her spouse waved a stick and they started yelling at it.
"It was an animal that didn't seem scared, like it was used to being around humans," said Archambault.
Archambault said Cannelle died of her injuries at the scene, saying it "didn't take long."
Marilyne Archambault
Rigaud has since posted online a warning and security tips on its website, including a statement from a wildlife expert saying it may not have been a coyote but an aggressive dog.
But Archambault said it definitely looked like a coyote from what they've seen online and they had heard about coyotes in the area, including from hikers they had encountered.
"It's in a forest at night in a place where a coyote would be hunting so it's not impossible," said David Rodrigue, executive director of the Ecomuseum.
"I think it reinforces the fact that we have to learn and accept to learn with them because they're present and they're here to stay."
Archambault said she thought it was important to share their story.
"It's not to hate on wild animals - it's to tell people to be careful," said Archambault.