Following a confrontation with a cougar last week that left a family dog and the cougar dead, one of those involved is urging pet owners to keep their animals indoors at this time of year.

“The only real purpose of making this public knowledge is to make all people with small animals aware of cougars,” said Helen Eldstrom.

Eldstrom, along with Ann Hopkins and Candis Dear, were walking Hopkins’ two small dogs near the Windermere Beach last Monday afternoon when an approximately two-year-old cougar pounced and attempted to attack the leashed dog.

“It didn’t feel threatened by us at all,” explained Eldstrom. “It was literally lunging between our legs to get at it.”

The women desperately trying to shelter Oliver, a Schnauzer, but it was Ottis, who was off leash, that soon caught the cougar’s eye and was immediately seized and killed. The female cougar then took off with her kill.

Eldstrom described the cougar as “stunningly beautiful” and roughly the size of a German Shepherd.

Following the incident, the women contacted Pat McHarg, Kootenay/Columbia zone Conservation Officer. Shortly after arriving he tracked and destroyed the cougar. Eldstrom believes that while the number of cougar/domestic animal incidents has been high recently, that it won’t last long.

“They’re just young and learning to hunt.

"They don’t feel comfortable taking down a deer, so they go after small animals,” she said.

Eldstrom is urging all pet owners to keep their cats and dogs indoors, and never unattended.

“Don’t take them out. Period. We were three very noisy adults and it still came at us. They don’t care,” she summarized.

This past Sunday night, Fairmont Hot Springs resident Jackie Wood and her dog, an Australian Terrier, had a close encounter with a cougar. At 9 p.m. she went to let her dog out.

"He wouldn't move," said Wood, who allowed her dog back in.

As soon as the sliding door closed, the dog began barking furiously.

Wood turned on the outside light to see a large cougar walking away very slowly, completely unfrightened by the light.

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Although cougar sightings have been reported in communities throughout the valley, there have only been two attacks on domestic animals. McHarg added that once the deer breeding season is over and the ungulates disperse, the cougars will be less apparent.

McHarg suggested carrying a large walking stick, which in the event of a cougar encounter can be waved around to look as large as possible.

"They need food to eat to survive. Where they find food is where they're going to be," said McHarg. "People need to understand that we live in wildlife country."

In addition to keeping a close watch on pets, parents should be extra cautious of small children playing outdoors.