Cougar killed after chasing terrified dog in family’s yard, Washington cops say

A cougar was killed after it was chasing a dog around a woman’s yard, Washington deputies say.

A dog owner called the Stevens County Sheriff’s Office on Wednesday to alert officials of a cougar chasing her dog around the yard, the sheriff’s office said in a post.

The cougar then ran onto her porch and deck, and it was running around the side of the house, officials said. The animal was still in the yard when deputies arrived.

It was killed “for obvious safety reasons,” the sheriff’s office said.

The Stevens County Sheriff’s Office said cougar encounters with humans, pets and livestock have been on the rise.

“The cougar was wearing what is believed to be a (Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife) collar,” the Stevens County Sheriff’s Office said in a post. “The Stevens County Wildlife Specialist responded, took custody of the cougar, and it will be turned over to WDFW.”

This story was originally published February 13, 2020 at 12:42 PM with the headline "Cougar killed after chasing terrified dog in family’s yard, Washington cops say."