Rev. Patricia Mayo: Missing pets sign of coyote, not dealt with by city or state

To The Daily Sun,

Sunny went out for his usual night-patrol two weeks ago and I haven't seen him since. He always comes in at dawn so consistently that I still wake with the sun to greet him.

Sunny is my 11-pound, long-hair, orange tiger cat (with a most extravagant tail) and my companion for eight years. For most of that time, he has had access to the outdoors. 

Sunny has been shy and skittish. He runs from any sound, any threat, real or imagined. I allowed myself to believe his speed and senses would protect him. 

Several nights into my lost-cat vigil, I heard the howl of a coyote. The call was coming from the wooded area between Pleasant Street and Blueberry Lane. A neighbor reported seeing a coyote in the area.

I've seen several "Missing Pet" posters and fear they are evidence of a capable predator. The domestic cat is a preferred prey of coyotes. Thanks in part to the recent construction boom around the Lakes Region and the clearing of wildlife habitat, we are having more encounters with the former inhabitants.

A call to the Laconia Police Department revealed their "animal control" officer does not deal with "wild animals." I learned from speaking with an officer of Fish and Game they do not relocate coyotes as they do with troublesome bears. (How do you compare the loss of an animal friend to damage done to bird feeders and garbage cans?)

The Humane Society will take a missing animal report and call if they hear anything. Sunny has a microchip ID. Always a good idea.

This story is shared as a warning to cat lovers to consider keeping their pets inside overnight. I'd be so happy to hear Sunny yelling at me to go out, but having another change to say "no."

Rev. Patricia Mayo

Laconia