PHOTO OF THE WEEK

-- Greg Fry

The loss of a pet can be a very traumatic experience, and it’s

difficult to walk into the house of a stranger who just went through

something like that and ask them to pose for a picture. But the Bradley

family, who had just lost one of their cats to a coyote attack, was very

nice and especially accommodating. I think they took comfort in the hope

that their story would help make other pet owners aware that a risk

existed, and that maybe more of their neighbors would, in turn, be

especially cautious when allowing their cats or dogs outside and out of

sight.

I think if you look at the picture, you can sense the sadness

resulting from the loss, but somehow at the same time can see that life

goes on. The family may be even closer now as a result of this trying

time.

It’s strange to think of wild animals preying on domestic pets in a

city like Costa Mesa. But we should also be happy that we live in a part

of Southern California that fortunately hasn’t been completely enveloped

by concrete and blacktop, and that there are still places where animals

can find refuge.