Police are warning the public about a cougar that attacked a small dog in Port Moody this week.

The wildcat was prowling the area of Chevalier Court and Flavelle Drive early Monday morning when it picked up Riley, a 15-year-old terrier, and tried to carry the dog away.

“I didn’t hear it. I didn’t see it. It just happened that quick,” Matt Smith, Riley’s owner, told CTV News.

“I heard (Riley) yelp. I looked over. I saw the eyes and I could see the white from the cougar’s mouth and then Riley as well.”

The cougar dropped the dog when Smith yelled, the Port Moody Police Department said in a news release.

Riley has since had surgery and is expected to make a full recovery.

Warning signs have already been posted in the neighbourhood, and anyone who spots a cougar in the area is asked to call the B.C. Conservation Officer Service.

Cougar sightings in the Tri-Cities are becoming more common.

In April, two of the big cats were spotted walking on the SkyTrain tracks in Port Moody.

Just a few weeks earlier, a cougar was filmed in a backyard in Coquitlam.

Smith said the wildcats pose a unique threat to residents, who are used to wildlife sightings.

“The bears, the coyotes the raccoons—we can live with those,” he said. “The cougars are a bit of a different story.”

Authorities said residents can reduce their risk of cougar encounters by storing garbage in cans with tight-fitting lids, and by not leaving uneaten pet food outdoors.

People who find themselves face-to-face with a cougar are advised to try to look as large as possible, make loud noises and back away slowly, always leaving a clear exit for the wild animal.

"Pick up children and small pets immediately. Never run or turn your back – sudden movements may provoke an attack," police said.

If a cougar should attack, authorities recommend fighting back, focusing strikes on the cat's face and eyes.

With a report from CTV Vancouver’s Sarah MacDonald