A bear killed a Chihuahua in front of its owner, days after injuring another dog in the same New Jersey town, officials said. Officials still warned about the large Chihuahua.
The deadly attack in Sparta occurred on Monday around 3:20 p.m. The homeowner took the Chihuahua outside to check on the noise and encountered a mother bear with her cubs. NJ.com reported.
The bear first moved towards the woman and then fired at the small dog, killing it, the outlet said.
The heavily forested area was already on high alert after the attack early last Thursday, when nearby residents heard a bear and its cub scavenging in the trash next to their homes.
According to NJ.com, the resident’s three dogs managed to escape from the house when he went outside to scare the unwelcome visitor with an air horn.
The mother bear pounced on one of the dogs, attacked her, and then fled the scene.
The newspaper added that the injured dog was treated at a veterinary hospital and is expected to recover.
Following both attacks, the New Jersey Department of Fish and Wildlife set traps for the bear, but the bear has not been found since Monday.
Police are asking anyone who sees a bear to report it immediately. “We appreciate the community’s cooperation and vigilance during this time,” Sparta Police Chief Jeffrey McCarrick said in a statement.
