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Coyotes once left this little dog fighting for life — so her family gave her an outfit no animal would dare attack

Now, the little pooch strolls outside confidently, no longer a target for predators, while her owner finally breathes easy.

BY TIYASA BISWAS

PUBLISHED 1 DAY AGO

(L) A domestic dog has it's first run in with a wild coyote, (R) A dog recovers from surgery. (Representative Cover Image Source: Getty Images |(L) Akchamczuk, (R) Leon Neal)

An unprecedented attack on their pet dog turned a family’s Christmas Eve into a nightmare. The Bourgoins were unprepared for the days ahead after witnessing their small dog, Piper, being mauled by a pack of coyotes in West Hartford, Connecticut. Their hearts sank as the wild animals injured their beloved pet across the road. Piper was left fighting for her life with slim chances of survival. But the stars eventually aligned for the pup as she lived to see another day and now proudly struts in a protective outfit cleverly designed by her owner.

A pack of coyotes. (Representative Image Source: Pexels | Caleb Falkenhagen)

“I thought she had passed, you know. But my wife’s like, ‘No, I can see her chest moving,’” pet owner Bruce Bourgoin told NBC Connecticut on YouTube. The family stood terrified as three coyotes attacked the pet at night. Bourgoin’s sister jumped to her rescue, carefully wrapping Piper in a towel before rushing to the nearest emergency veterinarian. The odds were on their side as the small pup survived the vicious attack, but with a long recovery ahead. Soon, the fateful night transformed into an inspiring story of survival that united an entire community. Neighbors and friends stepped up to help Piper make a full recovery and contributed to a GoFundMe campaign set up in her name to cover medical bills.

A dog getting treated at a vet clinic. (Representative Image Source: Getty Images | Manu Vega)

While she recovered, the family remained cautious about Piper’s safety, but did not want to take away her freedom. The pet parent decided to stitch her a cool vest that would protect her from attacks and also deter wild animals from grabbing her. It would act as a protective gear equipped with sharp spikes and a pink puncture-proof body to ensure Piper’s safety outdoors at all times. “Our first dog. So now I know what dog and cat people feel like. They become part of your family. I love that little dog,” said Bourgoin. Now, Piper enjoys her walks outside without the fear of a predator eyeing her as prey, while the pet owner breathes a sigh of relief.

Coyotes generally feed on prey animals like squirrels and rabbits, but may attack dogs if given the opportunity. Small dogs are most at risk as wild animals may see them as potential food, per Whole Dog Journal. Most attacks occur during winter because it is the breeding time for coyotes. However, they will likely avoid a dog with a human. It is advised to remain calm and walk away steadily when a pet owner faces a coyote risk outdoors. Habitat loss and rapid urbanization have driven coyotes into living near cities, where they have now evolved to prey on cats and small dogs. Jay Kaplan, director of Roaring Brook Nature Center, explained that some regions host coyote-wolf hybrids that are larger and dangerous than typical coyotes. The hybrid species was confirmed after wolf DNA traces were found in the coyotes.

You can follow @nbcconnecticut on YouTube for more videos.