Dog Survives Mountain Lion Attack in California Backyard — Watch!

Mar. 15, 2025

Stock image of a mountain lion.Photo:Getty

Getty

Steve and Nicole, the owners of a 3-year-old giant black schnauzer named Holly Jolly, spoke toKTLAabout the incident, which was captured on camera thanks to home surveillance.

“We heard a yelping and my husband said, ‘Is that Holly?’ and I said, ‘No, I think that’s the television,’ and he said, ‘No, I think that’s Holly,’” Nicole explained in the interview that was published on Monday.

They began yelling out to the wild animal just enough to startle it, allowing Holly Jolly to break free and run to safety.

“As soon as I heard how fierce the battle was, I was like there’s no way,” Steve said. “I was imagining like a skunk or something back here that she was just messing with, so then I went in and grabbed a gun.”

The uninvited guest was gone once Steve retrieved his firearm, however, it did come back about 20 minutes later. KTLA noted that the feline may have been returning to finish off its wounded prey.

Stock image of a Cougar, Puma or Mountain Lion.DeAgostini/Getty

La Verne is located in Los Angeles county.

Steve and Nicole told the news station that while wildlife such as bears, coyotes, rattlesnakes and mountain lions have been known to frequent the area, they had never seen a cougar come that close to their home.

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Holly Jolly’s owners quickly got her to the veterinarian, where she was treated for puncture wounds, scratches and an injury that required stitches. She is recovering well and happy to feel the love of her family.

“She’s enjoying all the extra love, all the extra treats, all the extra attention,” Nicole told KTLA. “She’s loving it right now."

Still shocked that the incident occurred, the couple is now hoping that their neighbors in the gated community of Mountain Springs keep a lookout for the big cat so that pets or people alike aren’t injured.

Stock image of a mountain lion warning sign.Getty

“We wanted to let all of our neighbors know that this thing is out and bold enough to jump in yards and attack a dog almost the same size,” Steve said.

According to theNational Park Service, if you ever come face-to-face with a mountain lion, you should never run from it because that “may stimulate a mountain lion’s instinct to chase.”

source: people.com