Can a hawk pick up a dog?

Red-tailed hawks; Smaller backyard hawks, such as the Cooper's hawk and sharp-shinned hawk, will not usually attack a pet unless they are exceptionally desperate. These hawks typically hunt much smaller game, such as mice or small songbirds. Nevertheless, any hawk, owl or falcon may attack a pet under the right – or wrong – circumstances. read more

No, there isn’t a secret war between birds and pets. But large hawks and owls are predators, and they do, sometimes, attack pets. There are a few things people with small pets — under 20 pounds — can do to take a little extra precaution. read more