The mystery of the lost pets

It seems like there are a lot of missing dogs and cats in Norwalk and New Canaan, Conn., and surrounding villages.
Driving near my home you can see lots of missing pet posters stapled to utility poles or on signs staked in the ground. It may be that people around here are more likely to put up signs for their lost pets than other places I’ve lived.
Or something more sinister is afoot.
Maybe the pets are being kidnapped by dog-fighting rings or sold to labs for medical experiments.
More likely, they’ve fallen victim to Connecticut’s significant coyote population.
I heard a pack of coyotes howling around midnight in my neighborhood earlier this week. If you’ve never heard coyotes howl, I can tell you it’s pretty creepy. Their unworldly yelps and cries can send a chill up your spine.
Residents are warned to keep their pets indoors at night and to keep an eye on them during the day. Coyotes looking for a snack can strike at any time.
Coyote sightings have increased recently, according to New Canaan Patch.
But whether they’re responsible for the missing pets on the signs around town is still a mystery.