What was meant to be a peaceful evening stroll quickly turned into heartbreak for a Colorado couple when their beloved dog, Bodhi, was killed while protecting them.
The little 10-pound pup didn’t just lose his life—he may have saved his owners from something far worse.
A Mountain Lion Appears Out of Nowhere
Taulere and Arrone Appel were doing what they always do—walking their dog Bodhi around 9pm near their Boulder neighborhood.
It was dark, but they had their flashlight, and Bodhi was safely on his leash.
Nothing about the night felt unusual—until suddenly, it was.
“All of a sudden, it just appeared where we were standing,” Taulere told KDVR. “And it just happened.”
Within moments, a mountain lion came out of the shadows and lunged at their tiny dog.
Bodhi’s Brave Final Moments
As the big cat grabbed Bodhi, Arrone held onto the leash in shock, watching the horrifying scene unfold in front of him.
“He started pulling him away,” Arrone recalled. “I was yelling. I couldn’t get too close—I knew I’d be next.”
It was over in a flash. Just three minutes into their usual route, their precious dog was gone.
Animal control officers later found Bodhi’s remains in a nearby backyard.
As painful as the loss was, Arrone believes their little dog saved his life.
A Rare and Devastating Attack
Officials confirmed the mountain lion attack was extremely rare—especially in a residential area like Boulder.
Still, the danger was real, and the animal was reportedly seen again in the same neighborhood the next day.
Local authorities have urged residents to take precautions when outdoors, especially at dusk and dawn, when mountain lions are most active.
What to Do If You See a Mountain Lion
Police and wildlife experts have offered crucial safety advice for locals:
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Avoid running. Stay calm and slowly back away.
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Try to look bigger. Raise your arms or jacket. Pick up small children.
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Make noise. Yell or clap loudly to scare it off.
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If it attacks, fight back. Never turn your back or crouch down.
Officials stressed that if a mountain lion becomes aggressive, throw sticks or rocks—but remain upright and visible.
Colorado Parks and Wildlife Still Searching
Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) made an attempt to tranquilize the mountain lion but couldn’t get a safe shot due to its location.
CPW spokesperson Kara Van Hoose explained, “It was too risky for a dart in that area.”
The agency is still monitoring the situation and asking residents to report any sightings immediately so they can make another attempt at relocating the animal.
Pets May Be Easy Targets
Van Hoose also explained that mountain lions can learn patterns and recognize pets as easy prey—especially if they’re let outside alone at night.
“These animals are powerful. They’ve taken down animals as big as alpacas,” she said.
“It’s not always about the size—it’s about access.”
She urged pet owners to be cautious and either keep dogs on a leash when going outside at night or make loud noises to deter predators.
Honoring Bodhi and Raising Awareness
For Taulere and Arrone, the loss of Bodhi is still raw.
But they hope his story will help protect others.
“We don’t want anyone to go through this,” Arrone said.
“We don’t want to scare people, but we do want them to be aware.
Especially for the kids—people assume their backyard is safe.”
The couple is still reeling from what happened but believes sharing Bodhi’s story is the best way to honor his brave little life.