SHERMAN, Texas (KXII) — Cold weather brings more than arctic wind, it also brings coyotes, a Sherman couple discovered.

“I open the door and I hear this awful scream like I’ve never heard a dog make that kind of noise before so I was like oh my word,” Jax owner Alec Hilliard said.

Alec and Morgan Hilliard were doing their normal nighttime routine of taking their dachshund, Jax, out before bed when their location quickly changed to the emergency room.

“I came back here and grabbed a flashlight and shone it on him and his whole ear was just covered in blood and his whole neck area was just covered in blood so I was like, c That’s when I started freaking out and I was like oh my God,” Hilliard said.

Alec said he didn’t know what attacked his best friend until they got to the vet.

“And I get a notification on my phone saying there’s an animal in your yard and I was like it’s possible and so I shot it and there’s a coyote walking around our yard like I guess just trying to find him you know coming back trying to finish what he started,” Hilliard said.

Grayson County Game Warden Daron Blackerby said this time of year is when wild animals make their presence best known.

“They’re more prone this time of year because of the cold weather, ease of access, you don’t want to leave cat food and dog food out because that’s what attracts other animals and that’s what attracts bobcats and coyotes,” Blackerby said.

Jax stayed at the vet for almost six hours before he could go home.

“They said he was really lucky to be alive because most small dogs don’t survive coyote attacks often,” Hilliard said.

Blackerby said if you come into contact with a wild animal like a coyote, avoid it and make lots of noise to scare it away.

“He’s been our boyfriend for 6 years now, so just like all those thoughts going through your head like a god, he could die tonight, that would suck, you know,” Hilliard said.

Jax is expected to make a full recovery, and if you want to follow his recovery, you can do so by following him and following him on his instagram account, “Jaxthe_dachshund”.

Copyright 2022 KXII. All rights reserved.