Beverly widow's beloved cat killed by coyote

BEVERLY, Mass. — A Beverly woman whose cat was snatched from her backyard and killed by a coyote is warning other residents of the danger.

Sylvia Trefry received a call from her neighbor Wednesday morning asking her if Jasper was home.

"I said, 'no.' He says, 'Well, there's a coyote lying out in my backyard, and we think it's a raccoon that he has.'" Trefry said. "And my heart sank, because Jasper was out."

Beverly Animal Control arrived and recovered Jasper's body. Trefry's neighbor helped her bury him in the front yard.

"I'm traumatized and heartbroken," Trefry said. "It's not easy. A cat isn't just a cat. He was my friend and like a little child for me."

Trefry had had Jasper for 12 years. After her husband's death three years ago, the cat became everything to her.

Shortly after the attack, she says she saw the coyote run through her backyard again.

Trefry's tenant, Sharon Fenton, who lives upstairs in the Lyman Street home, is now concerned about the safety of her grandchildren.

"My 3-year-old grandson comes over here quite often, and, if something happened when I was out in the backyard, I don't know what I would do," Fenton said.

Fenton created a Facebook post, alerting other families, particularly pet owners and parents of small children, to be careful.

"I don't want anyone to have to go through what we're going through right now," Fenton said.

Cox Media Group