Catherine and Griffith Jones awoke to find a mountain lion dragging away their golden retriever by the neck, but authorities said they won't take action unless another attack occurs.
Catherine Jones said the cougar dragged the 50-pound dog about 40 yards from their home in Mica Flats, eight miles south of here, before dropping it.After the big cat fled into the woods early Wednesday morning, Griffith Jones ran outside and carried his dazed dog back into the house.
Newt, the 7-year-old retriever, sustained several bites on her head, ears, face and throat during the attack, Jones said. The dog was unable to walk because of leg and back injuries. A veterinarian treating the dog believed it would survive, she said.
Jones contacted Idaho Fish and Game Department authorities about the incident. The family has two little boys, ages 2 and 4.
"We're not going to do anything about it unless there is another incident," said Ted Schmidt, enforcement officer for the department. "There's no way to tell if the cougar is still in the area."
Department authorities said cougar attacks on family pets are common, but they do not have any reports of human attacks.