A Yorkshire terrier was scooped up by a hawk at a doggy day care in Cleveland, Tennessee, on Saturday, according to a social media post by the business.
An employee let the small dogs that were being boarded at the day care out in the business’ play yard to use the restroom, and she walked away to clean up another area within earshot, the post said, adding that while the employee was cleaning, a hawk swooped down, grabbed the three-pound dog and flew away with it.
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The incident at Pawz N’ Clawz has prompted management at the dog day care, boarding and grooming facility to install nets over all the facility’s small dog play areas, according to the post.
“Please know that if you bring your pups in this week and they are less than 15 pounds, they will only play inside and be walked on a leash until the play yards are completely covered,” the post said.
Saturday morning, a woman found a “sickly looking” Yorkie near her home on Runway Drive, about a quarter mile from Pawz N’ Clawz, according to a police report from the Cleveland Police Department.
The woman told responding officers that she made contact with the owners, who were on a cruise, via social media, and they told her the dog, named Max, was supposed to be at Pawz N’ Clawz for the duration of their trip. She told police that the owners said they planned to sue Pawz N’ Clawz over the incident.
The business’ post said nothing like this has happened in three years of business.
“We never thought of anything like this occurring,” the post said. “Had we known there were hawks in the area or seen them, our pups would have been put up.”
Pawz N’ Clawz management declined to comment when reached by phone. The business updated its original social media post to say Max was found safe and that the business will not further comment due to reports of a possible lawsuit.
According to the Cornell Lab’s All About Birds website, most dogs and cats are large enough for raptors to not be a threat, but it is still a possibility. The website says that red-tailed hawks frequently prey on black-tailed jackrabbits, which can weigh up to 6 pounds.
Contact Kailee Shores at kshores@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6659.