A dog was attacked and killed by a mountain lion while out for a walk in Los Angeles on Friday night, and the notorious P-22 is believed to be responsible.
The incident occurred around 6:30 p.m. Friday night in the Hollywood Hills neighborhood and was captured on home security video. A dog walker was seen walking two small dogs, and as they exit the frame, a mountain lion emerges from the undergrowth, crouching as he follows.
A neighborhood resident recalled witnessing the attack.
“He literally grabbed one of the dogs, yanked him so hard he ripped off the leash and ran off with the dog in his mouth,” Warren Jason told FOX 11.
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The other dog and the walker were uninjured in the incident.
The dog that died was a Chihuahua mix named Piper, who was rescued by his owner in 2014. The owner and everyone else in the neighborhood are familiar with P-22, the cougar who lives in the Hollywood Hills/Griffith Park area. .
“He’s always on my video feed,” said one resident. He noted that he never had any problems with the animal, but that he doesn’t walk his dog at night because “coyotes are everywhere, so it’s not a good idea.”
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Community members said they feel terrible about Piper’s death, but are also concerned that the attack could spark a backlash against the beloved cougar, which they don’t support.
“The drought means there are fewer rabbits and other wildlife in the area, so P-22 is looking for food,” said a resident. “This is his house and we have to adapt.”
P-22, which was first documented by the Griffith Park Connectivity study a decade ago, has never been confirmed to have killed any pets. A koala at Griffith Park Zoo was found mauled to death in 2016, but P-22 was never charged for that death despite his collar showing he was in the area.
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The National Park Service told FOX 11 that they believe P-22 killed Piper, but have to confirm it was him via a tracking collar.
Residents also said they are confident that P-22 carried out the attack on Friday, as they have it on their surveillance video and recognize the necklace.