HIGHLANDS RANCH, Colo – There’s a quiet neighborhood in Highlands Ranch where visitors have spiked.
A woman said her dog was attacked by a not-so-common creature in her backyard, and she’s making it a ‘point’ to inform her neighbors.
Shanna Brock-Owen said these creatures came up unexpectedly for her family.
“We are an empty nest house now,” Brock-Owen said. “So our dogs have become our children."
Brock-Owen’s dogs are 4-year-old Labradors named Kimber and Ziggy.
“They’re usually in our side yard,” Brock-Owen said. “Our fence is our big yard... it's too small and they can jump over it.”
A few days ago, Kimber jumped over the fence, and when she returned, Brock-Owen noticed she had been attacked.
“I noticed she had all these sticks sticking out of her nose,” Brock-Owen said. “Upon further examination I noticed they were porcupine quills. I almost fell to my knees. I was heart-broken for her, because of how scary it must have been for her to be shot in the face with all these little quills.”
Brock-Owen said that Kimber was crying and whimpering, and Brock-Owen immediately brought her to the Animal Emergency Room.
Brock-Owen said the vets took the quills out and gave Kimber medicine and she was just fine.
“I’ve lived her for ten years, and I’ve never seen a porcupine here, and I asked the vets who said this type of injury in this area is rare,” Brock-Owen said.
According to Colorado Parks and Wildlife, porcupines stay in heavy brushed areas just like the one behind Brock-Owen’s backyard, but can be pretty uncommon in Highlands Ranch.
A Douglas County Animal Hospital spokesperson said porcupine attacks like this one are rare in the area, but not unheard of. The hospital said it sees about two a year.
Brock-Ownen however, is just happy her dog is okay, but doesn’t plan on trying to call Colorado Parks and Wildlife or animal control to fix the problem, she just wants her neighbors to know they’re out there.
“They could keep their pets and children safe,” Brock-Owen said. “Because you never know where a porcupine might be.
