Around 3 a.m., she spotted a puma walking through the streets.
The big cat then climbed the front steps of an apartment building.
Frozen to the spot
For a few seconds, she thought it was a stray dog. Then, the porch light came on and there was no longer any doubt. The puma stood still, seemingly frozen to the spot. It was her dog's barking that eventually scared the puma away. The pooch showed a true hero's instinct to protect his owner!
She alerted the city's police and fire departments. The next day, they located the feline, hidden in a garden between two buildings. The fire brigade then shot the animal three times with a tranquilliser dart. As a precaution, they tied its paws and blindfolded it to ensure it couldn't escape while being transported to a secure location.
Released back into the wild
The puma was then taken to wildlife experts at the city zoo. It was identified as a young male weighing 77 pounds. He will undergo health checks before being released back into the wild.
What's unusual is that pumas normally avoid areas inhabited by humans. The authorities hadn't seen any pumas in the city of San Francisco since 2020.
