HINGHAM, MASS. (WHDH) - Officials are warning parents to keep a close eye on their kids after a young girl walking her dog was chased by a coyote in Hingham Tuesday, prompting the town’s animal control to increase patrols in the area.
Chris Tomechek said his kids were about to leave for school when his daughter saw what was happening to their young neighbor on Patriots Way.
“She was walking her dog like she does most mornings and I noticed that the coyote started to run in the direction she was going and it’s not normal to see a coyote at 8:15 going that fast,” said Tomecheck, who quickly jumped into action. “I ran right out the door, started screaming ‘get out of here, get out of here, get out of here!’ … It was as big as a German shepherd, it was a very big coyote, so by the time I got outside [I] was luckily able to scare the coyote away.”
Jake Lebretton, 10, saw it all happen as he was walking to school with some friends.
“We just see this giant coyote running after her,” said Jake. “I was really scared, I just didn’t really know what to do.”
“Next thing you know we get a text that the kids were being chased by a coyote and animal control was coming and all hell was breaking loose,” said Jake’s dad, Matt Lebretton, who believes the coyote problem near South Elementary” has reached a breaking point.
“This story could have been very different and the state really needs to come up with a plan to take action,” said Matt Lebretton, who added that he’s started reaching out to elected officials.
“These coyotes, they’re wild animals you have to stay vigilant,” Tomechek said.
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