Dog rescues fellow canine from owl

PINGREE GROVE, Ill., Jan. 17 (UPI) -- Illinois police said a great horned owl -- captured after its attempt to grab a small dog was foiled by a larger dog -- likely was behind two similar attacks.

Patrick Evans said he heard a commotion in his Pingree Grove back yard and he came outside to find his 70-pound boxer, Sadie, fighting to remove the owl from Ramadi, his daughter's 7-pound shih-tzu and miniature poodle mix, the Chicago Sun-Times reported Tuesday.

"When they got to the door we were able to separate Sadie from the owl and my wife pinned the owl to the ground with her foot as I ran to get some gloves," Evans said.

Pingree Grove police Sgt. Rich Blair and Officer Anthony Mader said the owl was still in the yard when they responded to the home.

"The owl stood outside the sliding glass door looking at the smaller dog as if he wasn't leaving without it," Blair said.

The owl was captured and taken to Willowbrook Wildlife Rehabilitation and Education Center in Glen Ellyn, Ill. Workers at the center said the owl had severe injuries, which appeared to be from being hit by a car, and was euthanized.

Police said the Dec. 23 incident was the third owl-on-dog attack in as many days and the same bird is believed to be behind all of the incidents.