Dog Killed By Wolf Near Brighton Beach

Brighton Beach is a piece of Duluth that merges wildlife with city, but this normally peaceful place turned fatal Tuesday for a local dog owner. 

“He was with me the whole time jumping around and we got to the end and I always turn around and come back.” said Terry Irvin.

Irvin’s walks with his dog, Leo, were routine for the pair. The two would venture and explore the park and Leo loved the freedom that off-leash roaming provided. 

On this trip to Brighton Beach Tuesday, the daring retriever didn’t respond to his owner’s calls. Irvin frantically got into his car and began a search for Leo.

“When I pulled in and parked and he wasn’t there, I got a real sick feeling.” Irvin said. 

He ran back to the last place he saw his golden retriever-mix and discovered his dog had been attacked by a wolf. 

“50 feet to 70 feet off the trail—I seen the first place where he’d been attacked and 30 to 40 feet from there was the carcass.”

This is the first fatal wolf attack involving a dog that the nearby Northshore Veterinary Hospital has ever seen. 

“I think wolves are struggling a little bit to catch their natural prey which is primary deer,” said Steve Merchant, with the Department of Natural Resources. 

As a way to mourn Leo and alert other Duluth residents, the Northshore Veterinary Hospital posted a warning on social media for pet owners to be extra careful.