SOLANA BEACH, Calif. (FOX5/KUSI) — After a terrifying coyote attack in Solana Beach that left one woman injured and her dog killed earlier this week, many San Diegans are asking what can be done to keep their pets safe.
Across the county, residents said they’re seeing more coyotes and seeing them closer than ever. With San Diego’s many canyons and open spaces, the wild animals are increasingly appearing in broad daylight, even near busy neighborhoods.
One local company believes they might have an answer.
Inside a small San Diego workshop, protection comes in the form of spikes, bright colors and sharp bristles.
Paul Mott, the founder of CoyoteVest, began designing the pet armor after a tragic encounter a decade ago.
“It happened because my dog was killed by a coyote,” Mott said. “We started coming up with new designs to protect my other dogs. We wore them around, and people started asking if we could make one for them.”
That idea grew into what’s now a nationwide company. The vests made from stab-resistant material with stainless steel spikes and plastic bristles, are built to stop predators from biting or carrying small pets away.
“We start off by buying the fabric, cutting out the patterns, sewing them together and adding the logos and Velcro pieces,” Mott explained.
Each vest is made by hand and shipped directly from San Diego. While CoyoteVest has customers across the country, Mott says demand has surged in Southern California after recent attacks, including the Solana Beach incident that injured 82-year-old Roberta Hennigan as she tried to save her dog, Daisy.
“A coyote vest might have helped in this instance,” Mott said. “It could’ve given her just a moment to get away, and sometimes that’s all you need.”
The San Diego Humane Society recommends pet owners carry homemade noise makers, squirt guns or even pepper spray to deter coyotes.
As coyotes continue adapting to urban life, Mott says staying alert and prepared is crucial. His team is now working on versions of the CoyoteVest for cats and small farm animals.
“I learned the hard way,” he said. “I don’t want anyone else to go through what I did.”
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