Most pet owners take steps to protect their animals. In Santa Rosa, California, Odessa Gunn worried a car or coyote might one day claim the lives of her dogs, which is why she and her husband, renowned American bicyclist Levi Leipheimer, fenced in their property.

But now they're mourning the loss of their beloved Chihuahua, Trooper, and nursing their other dog, Bandit, back to health. The attacker came from an unlikely place -- the sky.

Gunn had just let her dogs out into the backyard and was preparing to join them. She recalls, "in the time it took me to put my boots on, I heard what sounded like a really horrendous cat screeching noise. I thought it was a mountain lion or a bobcat or something."

In fact, it was a pair of Great Horned Owls, birds that typically eat rats and squirrels. On this recent night, the birds set their sites on larger prey. From out of the darkness, the two owls swooped down and attacked Trooper and Bandit, just feet away from where Gunn stood.

After a violent struggle, Bandit escaped, bloody and limping, but Trooper was carried off and hasn't been seen since. No fur. No blood. Nothing.

While there are really no good statistics on the frequency of such attacks, wildlife experts say they're rare but almost always lethal. In many ways, owls are the perfect predators; they approach without warning, and their razor-sharp talons can snatch a pooch or cat two two three times their own body weight.

This is a particularly active hunting time for owls. As homeowners encroach on the birds' natural habitat, attacks on pets could become more problematic.

Right now, baby owls are hatching, so pet owners should keep an ear out for the distinctive hoots of these fiercely protective birds, and stay well clear. It's also a good idea to keep small pets indoors when the sun is down, or walk them on a leash. If the owls recognize something as prey, they won't discern the fact that it's somebody's pet.

Aren't Chihuahuas and rats the same thing. The Owl just did what came naturally.

Chihuahuas,

I am trying to see the big loss here...

Yeah, I'm thinking the only thing different here, as far as the owls were concerned, is that it tasted like chicken....

Yep..should rename the thread " Should've got a dog..."

On a lighter note, I once saw a Bald Eagle take a toy poodle...it was precious...

Ingwe

Chihuahuas - As a kid, had an aunt who used to raise about two litters a year of those things.

They would sit on the heated floor vents in the wintertime, shaking and shivering. If you forgot and got within a foot or so, they would run out and bite you on the shin.

In the hot summertime, they still sit on the floor vents even at 90 degrees, shaking & shivering.

Only difference, they would run out about 5 or six feet and bite you on the shin.

Only dog breed I'm biased against,....... guess that is why.

jumped on the couch, climbed up my lap and vigorously licked my face,

I commented to my son, that poor dumb broad doesn't have a clue it was probably coyote crap by this point..

so Seafire Jr asks me.. 'so dad, do you think if I put some coyote poop in a zip lock bag, and took it to her front door and said here is her dog back, and gave my apologies... do you think she would still give me the $100.00 reward?'

Don't ya love kids?