Some residents of Mobile subdivision concerned about coyotes after pet is killed

MOBILE, Ala. (WPMI) — Bill Gillerlain remembers that day many years ago when he saw a young cat on a busy Mobile street, in danger of being run over by a car. So he picked it up. It rode home on Bill's head, was promptly named “Slush” and became a part of the family… until the morning of July 10th, his wife's birthday. She went outside to feed Slush his breakfast-

“And the cat was nowhere to be found,” recalls Bill. “She got worried and went looking for the cat and found it across the street over there. It had been half eaten.”

Neighbors would later tell Bill they believed it was a Coyote that killed his cat. So he called the city and was told to call 3-1-1, where he says he was told…

“…that they would take the report and give it to the animal control people, but they did not routinely handle those. They said, call Fish and Game. I called Fish and Game and they said have the home owners association and let them deal with it. Pinehurst no longer has a home owners association.”

Bill says he did hear back from an animal control officer, who wrote-

“At this time, Animal Services is not licensed to deal with most wildlife species, which is why we typically defer citizens to the Alabama Dept. of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR). I still would like to see the footage of the coyotes before we contact their offices and look into the best methods to mitigate the issue within legal parameters. “

We talked with that officer with animal control who told us they can't be sure it was a coyote without some sort of security camera video or picture.

So far, video of that killing doesn't appear to exist.

There may not be video, but there is the next best thing and that is a witness. According to a woman who lives across the street, her husband was going to work that morning, came outside and saw the coyote drag the cat across the street and kill it in their yard.

“He said it was low slung,” says Bill, “had pointy ears and was real skinny.”

It's not impossible.

Video of a coyote was captured recently in the Spring Valley subdivision just south of Highway 90 near Azalea Road.

We spoke to a number of Bill's neighbors who say they've heard about the problem in Pinehurst and are keeping a watchful eye.

But it was a surprise to Paul Winokur, who was out walking his dog Nash just two blocks from where Bill's cat was killed.

Up until now, owls were his concern.

“If he hears the owl, he will take off and run inside,” he says.

Keeping Nash safe is important to Paul, especially after the recent passing of his wife.

Now Nash, he says, is his constant companion.

“Oh, yeah. He can't defend himself. He's too old.”

Meanwhile, Bill says losing slush was difficult enough.

But he revives the familiar worry that often comes with incidents like this one.

“School's getting ready to start, “ he says, somberly. “And you're going to have thousands of little kids waiting on buses.”

The city’s chief animal control officer tells NBC 15 News there was a meeting Monday to discuss the issue.

We’ll update you as soon as we find out more information.