Two males say they saved their canine from a mountain lion attack whereas on a path run close to Ojai earlier this month.
Ross Monroe, who’d lately adopted his canine, “Carter,” and his ‘operating buddy’ Pete Deneen, had been on the Sisar Canyon path after they heard the canine make a yelp or noise behind them.
Monroe stated he turned and noticed Carter within the jaws of a ‘wholesome trying’ mountain lion.
“The mountain lion had picked Carter up by the again of the neck and head and began to run away from us making his approach, in direction of the comb, in direction of the creek, to assert him I assume,” Monroe instructed NBCLA Friday.
He stated Deneen, who’s 6-foot-3, ran in direction of the mountain lion together with his arms raised and yelled, which apparently, startled the lion.
“It dropped Carter,” Monroe stated, then watched because the lion made its approach towards an oak tree, “tried to seize the oak tree, stumbled, fell on its again, after which took off into the comb.”
Carter had suffered critical puncture wounds on his head and his left ear was torn.
The males and Carter then ran greater than 3 miles again to their vehicles and drove to a veterinarian, Deneen stated.
“The ear was essentially the most vital of the accidents, however no fractures, his airway was intact,” Monroe stated.
Deneen, who’s an environmental author and trainer, grew up within the space however stated he’d by no means seen a mountain lion earlier than, and the hazard and extraordinary nature of what occurred did not sink in instantly.
“We had been positively in shock the complete approach again,” Deneen stated, and later thought,” we simply saved his canine from a mountain lion! What an incredible feeling.”
He stated he and Monroe met whereas doing volunteer work after the Thomas Fire burned by means of elements of Ventura and Santa Barbara counties in 2017.
They usually go on path runs collectively, and each marvel what would have occurred had both of them confronted the mountain lion alone.
“I do not know if both of us, can muster the bravery if we’re alone in that second, you recognize,” Deneen stated.
Monroe, who’s a doctor assistant, stated Carter has some large scars from the punctures and tears in his head and neck however has principally recovered.
He stated he is already returned to the Sisar path with Carter.
“It’s not going to stop me from going out there, it’s our backyard,” he said of the wilderness around Santa Paula and in the Upper Ojai Valley. “It’s what we know and love to do.”
Carter sat between the lads throughout their interview with NBCLA, and seemingly on cue, climbed onto Deneen’s lap and nuzzled his face when he talked about saving the canine from the mountain lion.
“It’s an inseparable bond now,” Monroe joked, “I misplaced my canine — to not a mountain lion — however to Pete!”
