Police warn of coyote attacks

Laguna Beach police are urging residents not to leave pets outside unattended following reports of several dog disappearances, according to a department release.

Three Yorkshire terriers were taken from backyards within the past week, police said.

The first incident occurred July 18 in the 3100 block of Bern Drive.

The owner last saw her two dogs the previous night before going to bed, the release said. The dogs were missing the following day and the owner thinks they were taken from the backyard, where police found coyote feces, blood and fur.

The second incident took place in the 2700 block of Temple Hills Drive early Thursday.

The owner let his dog into the backyard to exercise. After a short while, the dog was missing, the release said.

Evidence again suggested coyotes took the dog, police said.

Coyotes and other wildlife roam hillside areas when it’s dark and small dogs are prone to attacks because of their size, according to police.

No people have been attacked, police said.

—Bryce Alderton

Twitter: @aldertonbryce