Conservation officers are hunting for a rare black cougar that viciously attacked a tiny therapy horse in Maple Ridge this week.
Authorities said the miniature horse, whose name is Rio, suffered numerous puncture wounds to its head, face and throat during the mauling Monday night.
Fortunately, the owner of the farm where Rio lives managed to intervene and shoo the wild cat away, potentially saving the horse's life.
Property owner Crystal Ireland said she heard "blood curdling" screams coming from her barn around 6:30 p.m., and went outside to see Rio trapped on the ground. She initially thought the horse was under a fence, but quickly realized what was happening.
"We shone the light just over the fence and at that point saw it was a large cougar," Ireland said.
Even more unsettling, she said, was that the wild cat did not seem afraid.
She still managed to get the cougar off the property before conservation officers arrived, and Rio was taken to a vet for treatment. The animal is in for a long recovery, however.
Rio's owner, Barb Tunshell, said the horse was adopted from a rescue centre and trained as a therapy horse for a child with special needs. Rio was also being used for therapy in seniors' homes.
"He loves being with people," Tunshell said. "This little guy gives so much and he's a very special part of the family… he just needs everybody's prayers to make it."
An online fundraiser has also been set up to help pay for Rio's treatment.
Conservation officers have set up traps at Ireland's property, and are warning all farmers in the area to take extra precautions to protect their animals until the cougar is caught.
"Domestic livestock are at a higher risk if they are fed outdoors, off-leash or otherwise left unattended," officer Clayton Debruin said. "Especially at night."
The B.C. Conservation Officer Service also recommends using electrified fencing or air horns to keep predators away.
With a report from CTV Vancouver's Michele Brunoro
