I have been wanting to share this story here. I get up at 4am in the morning to go to the gym or run before work. I let my 2 dogs out to go to the bathroom before I leave and then feed them and my cats to keep them all quiet so the others in my house can sleep until I get home again. It is still quite dark out at that time.
One morning a few months ago, when I let them out, a Great Horned Owl (that has lived around my house for the past 5 years or so, swooped down and tried to pick up my 13 lb Bichon Frise, not once, but twice!
He spent 2 days in the hospital. He was put on antibiotics and strong pain meds. HE couldn't walk nor move for a week, wouldn't eat, barely drank water. He would bite when touched, I had to carry him up to bed at night, and back down in the am to the couch. It took 2 months until he was fully healed and back to his old self.
I had no idea my puppies weren't safe in all this time...I did a lot of research after this and it is more common than you would think. Also, I have learned that they are more apt to come back for the prey they didn't get..