I was walking my leashed 60-pound female Doberman Jamie Joy, after dark, in the grassy area on the Avenue of the Fountains, near Town Hall; something I do on occasion.

Jamie was only about three or four feet from my side when a hawk surprised us by swooping between us, flying just above my dog’s height, and right next to my body.

It then flew up near a light pole, on the other side of the street. I decided I was very lucky I didn’t bring my smaller Pomeranian dog with me that night.

It seemed that the hawk flew amid us to scope out the situation and see what meal it could find. We then turned around in a different direction and resumed our walk.

A minute or so later, the hawk reappeared from behind, and descended over my dog’s back before we realized what was happening. It got into position over my dog’s neck to lift her into the air.

My dobie then began shaking her head as it was above her eyesight. She could feel it, but she could not see what was occurring. The hawk, before I could react, flew up and away. It may have been that once it was into position, it felt the animal was too large to lift.

I am grateful my dog’s neck was not injured. The hawk did leave a welt on the skin under my dog’s hair from one of its talons.

I am hoping this story brings awareness to others walking their dogs. Perhaps it will save a smaller dog from ill-fate. It was a reminder for me; that being -- nature does not necessarily consider people a deterrent to their dinner.