A California woman suffered a traumatic loss when a mountain lion attacked her Shih Tzu during a nighttime walk near Glendale. Laura McVay was just steps from her home when she felt a sudden tug on her dog Declan's leash and discovered the predator had grabbed her pet.

McVay told authorities she did everything experts recommend during wildlife encounters - screaming, making noise, and trying to scare the animal away. Despite her efforts to pull Declan free, the mountain lion ripped the dog from her grasp and fled up a nearby hillside. The incident occurred on Feb. 23, and Declan remains missing.

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife confirmed the attack was likely caused by a mountain lion, given the animal's prevalence in the Verdugo Mountains area. The department warned residents to avoid walking pets between dusk and dawn and urged extreme vigilance after dark when large predators are most active.