A spunky Pomeranian named Sadie is lucky to be alive after she was snatched by an owl in the woods near her Iowa home. Sadie had run away last week after being scared by fireworks, reports the Associated Press. "I just kinda thought she had found somewhere to sleep and that she would be home," Sadie's owner, Michelle McCarten, explained to the AP.
Instead, "Sadie was swooped up by an owl in the woods," the AP reports. The dog was discovered when she fell out of the sky, landing in the middle of the road in front of a surprised driver, Jamie Padden. Padden had gotten out of the car to help the dog when she saw the owl returning.
"The bird's wingspan took up about half of the road when it was coming down, so it was a pretty big bird," Padden told the AP. "I was screaming and yelling... and the bird took back up."
"The area they showed [in the video] looks like perfect great-horned-owl territory," raptor specialist, Trish Nixon, tells Paw Nation. "Without having been there, I surmise that the owl saw the Pomeranian running around -- not much bigger than a rabbit -- and was either protecting its territory or was hungry." Rabbits are prey to raptors such as the great horned owl, which are called the "tigers of the sky," says Nixon, "because they are pretty fearless when it comes to hunting and protecting their territory."
Luckily, Sadie escaped the owl's clutches with only a broken tail. "I would guess that the reason the dog was dropped was that it was too heavy for the owl to actually carry and hold on to for long," says Nixon. Owls are nocturnal, so if a small dog is left out at night, it could be mistaken for prey.
Instead, "Sadie was swooped up by an owl in the woods," the AP reports. The dog was discovered when she fell out of the sky, landing in the middle of the road in front of a surprised driver, Jamie Padden. Padden had gotten out of the car to help the dog when she saw the owl returning.
"The bird's wingspan took up about half of the road when it was coming down, so it was a pretty big bird," Padden told the AP. "I was screaming and yelling... and the bird took back up."
"The area they showed [in the video] looks like perfect great-horned-owl territory," raptor specialist, Trish Nixon, tells Paw Nation. "Without having been there, I surmise that the owl saw the Pomeranian running around -- not much bigger than a rabbit -- and was either protecting its territory or was hungry." Rabbits are prey to raptors such as the great horned owl, which are called the "tigers of the sky," says Nixon, "because they are pretty fearless when it comes to hunting and protecting their territory."
Luckily, Sadie escaped the owl's clutches with only a broken tail. "I would guess that the reason the dog was dropped was that it was too heavy for the owl to actually carry and hold on to for long," says Nixon. Owls are nocturnal, so if a small dog is left out at night, it could be mistaken for prey.
More Cute Stuff
- I've Got You Now, Stuffed Mouse (Daily Squee)
- Doggie Dental Health Quiz (Discovery Health)
- We's Yin and Yang (I Has a Hotdog)
- Lisa Frank Dolphin IRL! (Acting Like Animals)
- Egg-cellent Fowl Fashions (The Daily Treat)
Sponsored Links
Advertisement
Can't Miss Galleries
Today's Popular Articles
The Doggie Diaries - A Run-In With the Neighbors- Caretaking Cat Saves Lives at Animal Clinic
- What to Leave for Your Pet Sitter
Really?! "I just kinda thought she had found somewhere to sleep" says the human??
In a snowy, wooded area like that? NO WAY- I'd be out all night looking for the little dear, just like when my old German Shepherd used to run off during thunderstorms & fireworks. I am appalled.
I was thinking the same thing, California Bombshell. How can the man sleep not knowing what's happened to his dog?
This person doesn't deserve having their dog back. This dog should be placed in a loving home.
I thought the exact same thing. FIRST OF ALL, if there were fireworks going on, I would either have my pet enclosed in the garage outside so she could use the litter box, keep her INSIDE, OR if I had a dog, I would have LEASHED her to my ARM to let her go potty!! This owner is someone of money who does not appreciate what she owns, until it's too late that is!!
I simply cannot imagine this owner's cavalier attitude about a tiny pet. I have a Yorkshire terrier, about 5 1/2 pounds and also very spirited, but I would walk the roads for days until I found her or I died, whichever came first. While walking with Gracie one evening, my husband stopped to chat with a neighbor like sub-division folks frequently do and Gracie was entertaining the neighbor's children. An owl descended toward Gracie but changed its mind about 6 feet from the ground and went back up. Maybe it was the close proximity of people. I think it could certainly see people from the air but got close enough to see that Grace was wearing a plaid sweater and decided maybe she wasn't actually food. Regardless, that was the warning we needed that she should never be outside alone and preferably leashed. My vet said that birds of prey will purposely drop a troublesome catch to kill or stun it to make it easier to deal with. My guess is the Pom was behaving in typical tiny dog pattern, snarling, growling, and generally giving the owl more fight than it was up for so it dropped her. Vet also suggested we cover Gracie's play yard with fencing if she goes outside alone to bathroom.
Almost a dirt nap.
she might have looked for her you don't know
Time to stock up on Purina Owl Chow.
sad!
but this could be Photoshoped
you never know...
I completely agree with you. This woman should not own this dog.
I'm with you, Why wouldn't that person be out lookinbg for that "pet". I would be searching all night, too. Of course if your pet is a 100 pound lab, chances are the owl isn't going to take her.
I have a pom and I have a cow at night if she gets out because of
coyotes and anything. We have a big house and lots of kids who leave a door open sometimes and believe me if I hear her outside for a second I am there.
This lady should not own a dog..
I agree also; I'm not so sure I could sleep without wondering what happened to my pet. I'd be lucky if they didn't take me to the nearest hospital to sedate me. I just couln't handle losing my pet.
Suffer for your pet if you want to but I think its foolish. Dieing for your pet, like one poster suggested, is insane. Pets are not people. Treat them with care and affection, and never abuse them, but suffer for one? Not me.
Can someone do something about this stupid owner???..Please contact the area,..humane society,..and take this little baby away from this person!! She obviously doesnt have a 'full deck' and doesnt deserve to have the little dog!!
Every one of you people are as nutty as can be.
I live where this happened and I heard the owner interviewed two days after the incident. Michelle and her friends were frantically looking for Sadie for hours after she ran away. It was a hard search in the dark and they were back out at sun up. Michelle is a loving pet owner, and she was devastated by Sadie's disappearance. This clip was edited in such a way as to make Michelle appear irresponsible and uncaring, and that is not the case!
I am a Pomeranian breeder, first Poms should not be outdoor dogs, They are small and easy for any large fluing animal to scoop up and eat. Buy a large snow dog dumies. I will not sell to breeders that will not keep dogs indoors 98% of the time. It's in my contract I can take them back if I find they are crated or left outdoors. This family doesn't deserve this poor baby back at all. Place it in a indoor loving home!!!! This man or family make me sick! Thanks to the guy that found this poor dog.. DON'T BUY A DOG IF YOU CAN'T BE CARING.
UNBELIEVABLE that this woman is so unconcerned about her little dog. She does not deserve to have that dog back. I hope she is sent all of these comments!!
SHAME ON YOU!
OMG! Even before reading your comment and others that followed, I formed the same inhumane conclusions.
What kind of supposed canine dedicated person would just sit back and ASSUME her beloved little dog would just come home the next day!!!!
I'm elated that little Sadie escaped with minor injuries, BUT she should never have been returned to THAT owner. Irresponsible and definitely uncaring I'd say.
As for Michelle McCarten, well I wouldn't even show my face for fear of retribution from animal lovers everywhere.