Police on Vancouver Island are warning residents to protect their pets during deer mating season after a buck killed a dog while in the backyard of a home.
Oak Bay police say an aggressive buck speared the dog with its antlers.
The department’s Sgt. Kevin Diachina says the dog might have spooked a large buck that came out of the bushes before the attack.
Police say conservation officers and animal control have been informed about the deer attack.
Diachina says the dog’s owner later reached out to the police in the hope of spreading awareness.
He says there are some large deer in Oak Bay and the males can be “unpredictable” and “aggressive” in rutting season, and it’s important for people to keep their pets at a distance.