Tiny dog fights off coyote in Scarborough

Macy, a Yorkie, barked and stood her ground against the coyote

Torontosun.com
July 23, 2021
Liz Braun

Don’t mess with Macy.

The heroic little Yorkie stood up to a coyote this week, holding her own as the wild animal chased Macy and her owner, 10 year old Lily Kwan, when they were out for a morning walk.

Macy barked and stood her ground while Lily, terrified, ran for help in her Scarborough neighbourhood.

The coyote bit Macy, picking the tiny dog up in its jaws and shaking her, but Macy wriggled free.

When it was all over, the 10 pound Macy had multiple bite wounds and injuries and a massive veterinarian bill.

Lily’s mother, Dorothy Kwan, reported on Thursday that instead of coming home, Macy would have to stay in intensive care another day as she has now developed a fever.

It may be infection from one of the bites. She’s still expected to survive.

A GoFundMe is raising money to pay the vet’s bill.

“She made it through surgery like a trooper,” said Kwan on Thursday of the family dog.

“We’re hoping the fever is a minor setback.”

Surveillance video from a neighbour’s property shows the coyote attacking Macy, and Kwan said she couldn’t look at the video at first.

Friends viewed it and told her it clearly showed Macy defending Lily.

“I thought, ‘I guess I can watch it if she put her life on the line to save my daughter.'”

Fear has been quickly followed by frustration in the Kwan household. Dorothy says she’s spoken to a dozen agencies -- wildlife people, animal control, city of Toronto, the police, the Ministry of Natural Resources -- and there’s nothing anyone can or will do about this particular coyote.

The animal wears a collar and has a tracking device; it’s part of a Ministry of Natural Resources study examining the habitat and behaviour of coyotes in urban areas.

The Kwans live in the St. Clair and Birchmount area, close to big green spaces and the ravine system associated with Taylor-Massey Creek. Wildlife abounds.

What’s problematic, said Kwan, “Is that the coyote is not scared of people. It’s very aggressive. It’s stalking the neighbourhood.”

Kwan knows that animals will leave if they can’t find food, but someone is feeding wildlife in her area, possibly unwittingly.

She has no idea who it could be.

“We’re all so scared! Nobody wants to go for a walk. The kids don’t want to ride their bikes. No one allows their kids to walk the dog now. Lily doesn’t even want to walk to her grandparents’ house now.

“They live a block away from us.”

Kwan was literally sick with worry for her daughter over the incident and hasn’t gone to work since Tuesday.

She purchased pepper spray and is looking into a special coyote vest for her dog -- it has spikes on it to keep the predator from biting. She wonders about taking a walking stick when she goes out with the dog.

“I just wish I knew who to call. Even when a coyote does something aggressive like this, they still refuse to do something. I’m not suggesting we get rid of all coyotes, but this one is out and about in broad daylight and it’s not scared of humans.”

With any luck, the coyote will be scared of Macy if they meet again.

“She is one feisty, crazy dog,” said Kwan, who adds that they jokingly call her ‘Killer Macy’ because she’s so fierce.

“She’s a rescue. She’s not keen on being nice to people or other dogs but she will protect our family over everything. She wouldn’t back down.

“I just hope my dog will come home soon.”