An aggressive deer “impaled” a dog with its antlers Wednesday evening in an Oak Bay yard, and the family pet had to be euthanized due to its injuries.

Oak Bay Police Sgt. Kevin Diachina said the dog was attacked after its owners, who live in the 800 block of Newport Avenue, let it out around 7:30 p.m.

“They didn’t know the deer was there and unfortunately the dog was impaled by the deer’s antlers and died,” Diachina said.

The family pet was a husky-shepherd cross and was deaf, the owners told police.

The owners, who were not identified, reported it to police the next day to warn cheaters of the deer, likely in its annual rut, Diachina said.

“These are large animals – weighing between 150 and 200 pounds – and at this time of year they are very unpredictable and people need to be careful,” he said.

The dog was walking along the perimeter of the property and approached the deer as it was eating vegetation.

The deer lowered its head and threw the dog. The dog was seriously injured and was taken to a veterinary clinic and euthanized after its injuries – including a three-to-four-inch puncture wound to the chest – were assessed.

It’s the height of the annual white-tailed deer rutting season, when bucks are territorial and agitated as they seek out does. Males are known to be very aggressive during the breeding season, which usually lasts until October, November and December.

Police said Conservation Officer Services and Animal Control were notified of the attack.

In a statement released by the Department of Environment, the Conservation Officer Service said it received a call from landowners via its Report All Poachers and Polluters (RAPP) reporting line on Wednesday evening.

“Deer can become more aggressive toward pets during the rutting season, so the COS encourages residents to take precautions when encountering wildlife, such as being aware of their surroundings and keeping a leash or supervise animals outside,” the release said.

Diachina said owners should check the yard before letting dogs out, even for a short time, turning on a light if it’s dark.

The BCSPCA said the rut sees male deer show more attention to does and aggression toward males, whom they view as rivals.

The advice is to give them plenty of space.

“They may feel threatened at close quarters and view humans or pets as rivals or simply a danger during this sensitive time,” the agency said. “Take a different route if deer activity is regular in an area, keep dogs on leash and pick up small dogs if deer is nearby.”

This week’s attack contrasts with another encounter between dogs and deer in Oak Bay on October 4.

In this case, near Monterey and Brighton avenues, a dog that attacked a deer was described as “vicious” and must now be leashed and muzzled.

The owner received several municipal tickets and had to post a sign on his residence alerting anyone arriving at the residence that a vicious dog lives there.

Oak Bay police found the deer with “a significant leg injury,” although the animal was able to run away.

Neither Oak Bay police nor Victoria Animal Control could say whether the deer survived the attack.

Urban deer can be a year-round problem for residents, and especially those with pets. During spring and summer, female deer can be very protective of fawns and have been known to attack dogs and their owners if they believe their young are threatened.

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