Neighbors on alert after cougar attacks family pet near Bremerton



KITSAP COUNTY, Wash. -- Neighbors near Bremerton are sounding the alarm after they believe a cougar attacked and killed a family pet.

The pet’s owner says it happened a week ago in the Manette area of Kitsap County.

Chris Byrne now keeps an even closer eye on her pets. Byrne has five cats now but lost one last week after her neighbor spotted a cougar patrolling the neighborhood.

“Never had any issue for years,” she said, “I never would have thought.”

Neighbors said the cougar came out of a wood line at the end of the street. The same day one of Chris’ cats was found torn to pieces in a neighbor’s yard.

“I never thought there would be danger,” said Byrne.

Neighbor Marilyn Lopez said her family just moved in about a week ago and she only learned of the cougar sighting in the past few days. Now she’s worried about her grandchildren, so she’s keeping them indoors for now.

“You know a year old and three years old so they’re very small and you know you just turn your back for one second and they will just lunge for a child and drag them off,” said Lopez.

The Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife said it would investigate if the cougar makes another appearance in the neighborhood, but the wild cats have a large territory and might no longer be in the area.

Now Byrne tries to keep her cats indoors, and she’s warning her neighbors to be on the look out in case the cougar makes a return visit.

“I just want people to know so that they don’t face the same situation so they can protect their animals, they can protect their kids,” said Byrne.