TEGA CAY, S.C. — A man told Channel 9 he was running near Lookout Park and Shoreline Parkway in Tega Cay on Saturday morning with his two dogs, Gracie and Lilly, when they were attacked by a coyote.
Lilly’s bite wasn’t too bad and Gracie scared the coyote away.
"It happened really quick. The coyote snuck up on her,” the man, who did not want to be identified, told Eyewitness News. “By the time I turned, it was already coming towards me, and all I could think is, it was rabid."
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The man said he called police to report the incident but was told by officers that they couldn't do much.
“The concern I have is the two dogs are 90 pounds each, the coyote is probably three-quarters of the size of one of the dogs,” he said.
"They came over right away, but said we can't do anything because unfortunately, the city made the decision to pull out the traps,” he said. “They said the DNR's hands are tied until the city decides they'll have traps again."
The man is concerned about the children in his neighborhood and said this isn't the first time there's been an aggressive coyote encounter.
He showed Channel 9 reporter Stephanie Tinoco a social media post by a neighbor who said three coyotes charged at her and her dog less than a week ago.
He said he wants to meet with the mayor to address the community's concerns.
"It's unfortunate for the animals, but you can't have coyotes attacking people.”
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