West View Police: No Foul Play in Dog's Death, Coyote or Raccoon Suspected

More than 50 people have called West View Police in the past few days to ask about rumors surrounding the death of a dog in its own backyard on Georgetown Avenue in West View earlier this week.

"People are telling us that they heard heard that the dog was killed as some sort of Halloween prank," said Lt. Matt Holland of the West View Police Department.

"There is absolutely no evidence of that," Holland said. "There is no evidence of foul play. In fact the husky's owners contacted us to say they're certain their dog was attacked by another animal."

Holland said either a raccoon or perhaps a coyote could be the culprit.

"We have no way of knowing for sure, but our officers have seen coyotes in the borough at night," said Holland. "They are becoming more prevalent in Allegheny County. Raccoons are also known to attack other animals."

Holland says owners should be aware of their pets' surroundings when the animals are outside, either in a fenced-in area or on a leash.

"There's no reason to panic, but you should check on your pet regularly, especially if it spends a lot of time outside," Holland said.

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