Trail runners save dog from mountain lion attack

Two trail runners managed to fend off a mountain lion that attacked their dog on a recent early morning outing in California’s Ojai Valley.

“In a heartbeat, our routine morning run turned into a life-altering sprint to save Ross’s dog, Carter,” recalls Pete Deneen, one-half (with friend Ross Monroe) of the trail-running duo whose recent outing took a harrowing turn. The duo heard Carter’s distress cries ahead of them and began racing uphill to help Monroe’s recently adopted rescue dog.

“In hindsight, a mountain lion never crossed my mind at that moment,” reflects Deneen, who told Canadian Running that despite recent local incidents, including one where a woman lost her leashed dog to a mountain lion, he had never seen one of the big cats. “That was my first time seeing one, although our area seems to have an abundance of lions, bold ones at that,” Deneen said.

“When we rounded the corner, a mountain lion came into view, poised atop Ross’ dog—a 50-pound husky mix newly rescued from the streets of Watts—wrangling his neck into a better position to wring,” Deneed told Oak Valley News. “It looked up, made eye contact, and began running left toward Sisar Creek with Carter hanging from his jaws.”

Monroe vividly remembered the initial shock: “The first noise I tried to make when we were running at the mountain lion, nothing came out,” he said in an interview with KCLU. “There was vomit in the back of my mouth; I was so scared.”

Hearts pounding, Monroe and Ross closed the gap to about four and a half metres), shouting guttural warnings at the lion. “Charging straight at the lion with one leap to go, I needed to decide how I would free the dog, which limb would I sacrifice to engage with its retractable claws and teeth?” said Deneen. The cougar unexpectedly released Carter and disappeared into the bush. Carter emerged remarkably resilient, making the five-kilometre journey back to safety under his power despite severe puncture wounds and a torn ear.

The encounter prompts contemplation on strategies when facing mountain lions in the wild. Experts advocate for making oneself big, getting loud and standing ground, and Deneen emphasized the accuracy of these guidelines to Canadian Running. “Every encounter is circumstantial, but generally what the book says to do works. It worked for us and I’m grateful and encouraged by that.”

Deneen acknowledges the rarity of such encounters and the importance of coexisting with mountain lions. “Anyone who spends outdoor time in lion country has imagined a situation like this and tried to project what they would do. To be presented the real-life opportunity and react the way we did feels affirming beyond words,” said Deneen. “It was a rare and validating experience.”

“I feel brave and proud and reverent and grateful that the lion’s attempt happened to be made on a dog with two people who could save it, who hopefully imparted a lesson on a resident lion of Sisar Canyon—who will continue to be presented with similar prey opportunities for years to come—and will hopefully forgoe them because of the experience with us,” Deenen said. “As humans living in lion habitat, we must do our best to coexist as well with lions as possible.”

Deneen, Monroe and Carter aren’t letting the experience slow down their trail adventures.”Going for a run with Ross and Carter in the canyon right now!” he told Canadian Running.