Injured Arizona pup Squeakers shaken up, but recovering after tangling with bobcat
On Monday, a San Manuel homeowner came home to an unexpected surprise when he noticed a bobcat lounging on the dog bed in his home; the critter was suspected to have entered through a doggy door.
The homeowner worried for the safety of his pets that were on the property: three dogs, three cats, a sheep, and a donkey.
He immediately called the Arizona Game and Fish Department, locked his pets and himself in bedrooms and opened all doors leading outside so the bobcat could readily escape. Before department personnel arrived, the big cat had ran off.
Neither the homeowner nor his pets in the home were injured, but he did notice one thing was missing during the harrowing ordeal: his small Chihuahua-Dachshund dog, Squeakers.
He was nowhere to be found in the home nor around the neighborhood, but on Tuesday, the little pup returned seriously injured from the bobcat's attack.
The department said it believes the dog and the bobcat "tangled" when the animal entered the home. Scared and injured, Squeakers left the home until returning the next day, according to Mark Hart, spokesperson for the Arizona Game and Fish Department.
Bobcat in your living room?What to do if a wild animal is in your home
Squeakers was taken to the Veterinary Specialty Center of Tucson and needed surgery. Hart said Squeakers is recovering fine but probably pretty shaken up from the attack.
Since the incident, Squeakers now has his own Instagram page. On Thursday, a photo of Squeakers was posted of him healing at home "in a new bed."
A bobcat lounges on a dog bed in San Manuel home Mon. The homeowner, who found it upon returning from work, suspects it entered through an unlocked doggie door. The bobcat escaped before an officer arrived. Don’t handle entrapped/hurt wildlife yourself. Call 623-236-7201 ASAP. pic.twitter.com/zcQFD4m08h
— AZ Game & Fish Dept (@azgfdTucson) March 7, 2023
Overwhelming support has also been shown on a GoFundMe page that was set up to help with medical expenses, reaching over $5,000 as of Friday morning. The remaining funds will be donated to a local charity to help other people and animals in need that cannot afford it.
What to do if a wild animal is in your home?
If you see a wild animal in your house or your neighbor's yard, it's a good practice to immediately call the Arizona Game and Fish Department Dispatch at 623-236-7201 to report what you saw and get quick advice on what to do.
According to the department, bobcats may be attracted to your home for its easy access to food, water or shelter. They rarely attack humans but pose a threat to domestic birds, rabbits and other small pets.
Hart said most animals are scared of loud noises, so deterring a big creature by clapping hands or shaking items is usually the best response. If the animal is confined in your yard or home, open all the doors, so it can easily leave the premises.
Reach breaking news reporter Ellie Willard at ellie.willard@gannett.com or on Twitter @EllieWillardAZ.
Support local journalism. Subscribe to azcentral.com
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Injured Arizona pup Squeakers on the mend after tangling with bobcat
