Woman Saves Dog From Coyote Attack with Newspaper

by
posted on November 15, 2012
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **
dogs_ah2015_fs.jpg (35)

Tucker, a 12-year-old Chihuahua, has fought diabetes, a brain tumor, near-blindness and, most recently, a pair of attacking coyotes.

His owner, Dawn McCarty, was getting the newspaper when she heard Tucker yelping in her suburban Chicago backyard. She ran to investigate, and that’s when she saw Tucker’s little leg in a coyote’s jaws.

“To see my little guy in the mouth of a coyote—it was terrifying,” McCarty told the Chicago Sun-Times, adding that a second coyote was also in the yard. “They were big—bigger than a German shepherd.”

Okay, so McCarty overestimated the size of the coyotes. Give her a break. They probably looked pretty big next to a Chihuahua, and I’m sure the incident was very traumatic. The important thing is she taught those coyotes a lesson.

“I took my newspaper and kind of held it out like a sword, and I shooed it away—I beat the coyote away,” she said.

McCarty says Tucker still seems shaken up from the ordeal, but otherwise suffered only a few abrasions to his leg.

Even those dog owners located in urban areas should be mindful of the increasing presence of coyotes. As NBC Chicago notes, attacks are on the rise, and not all pets have fared as well as Tucker.

Latest

Olmsted Shooting BAR MK4 Hunter 2
Olmsted Shooting BAR MK4 Hunter 2

New for 2026: Browning BAR MK 4 Hunter

One of America's favorite semi-automatic hunting rifles is back, in the Browning BAR MK 4. In this video, American Hunter Editor in Chief Scott Olmsted checks out the Hunter model, with a beautiful walnut stock, and aluminum alloy receiver.

New for 2026: Remington 7mm Backcountry Offerings

The 7mm BackCountry came to light last year this time, utilizing a Peak Alloy steel case to raise the pressure limits from the traditional 65,000 psi all the way up to 80,000 psi. For 2026, Remington has joined the party with three offerings for the 7BC: Core-Lokt, Core-Lokt Tipped, and Speer Impact.

Landmark Cougar Reproduction Confirmed in Michigan

Late last month, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) verified a Dec. 6 photo of an adult cougar being followed by two kittens down a snowy trail in central Ontonagon County. The last time the kittens were documented—in early March 2025—they were only about two months old and alone, raising concerns about their survival.

Report: Private Landowner Investments in Conservation Hits Staggering Number

Private lands play a central role in the well-being of people and wildlife throughout the West, but the economic pressure increases each year. A new, groundbreaking report sheds light on the efforts and investments landowners continue to make, despite that challenge, to conserve and steward remaining intact lands and natural resources.

White Label Armory Launches Full Suppressor Lineup

White Label Armory, a manufacturing and supply subsidiary of VKTR Industries, is launching a new budget friendly, duty-capable suppressor line available to dealers exclusively through Sports South.

New for 2026: CVA Scout Spur 28-Gauge

CVA has unveiled its new Scout Spur in 28-gauge with fresh patterns. The Scout Spur is lightweight, handy and now in .28-gauge gives hunters more options in the field.

Interests



Get the best of American Hunter delivered to your inbox.