WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (AP) – A Purdue Animal Hospital veterinarian says fatal coyote attacks on dogs in cities are uncommon but the clinic has recently seen two such cases.

Veterinarian Steve Thompson tells WLFI-TV that two small dogs – one in Lafayette and another in Frankfort – were both attacked within a 24-hour period last week. Both pets had been left outside for short periods of time before the coyote attacks.

Thompson says another dog was attacked by a coyote in rural Tippecanoe County two weeks ago. He says such rural attacks will become more common as winter approaches.

Thompson says food left outside for pets can attract coyotes who may later hunt small pets.