Watch Out! Top 10 Wild Animals That Could Attack Your Pets

Earlier this month, Ozzy Osbourne was devastated by the news that one of his precious pups had been killed by a coyote behind his family's Los Angeles home. It’s truly disturbing, but all too common: Hundreds, if not thousands, of house pets are attacked by wild animals each year.

Veterinary Pet Insurance Co. yesterday released a list of the top 10 wild animals that attack pets, including (in order of frequency): snakes, coyotes, raccoons, squirrels, scorpions (specific to Arizona), javelinas (pig-like creatures specific to the southwestern U.S.), porcupines, groundhogs, skunks and rats.

Though the animals listed may be vicious, the Humane Society says that pet owners must remember that attacks are often provoked. "Most interactions between wildlife and pets that have unfortunate consequences would really be pet-initiated, like the inquisitive dog who gets sprayed by a skunk or quilled by a porcupine," Dr. John Hadidian, director of Urban Wildlife Programs for the Humane Society of the United States, tells PEOPLE Pets.

So how can you prevent this from happening to your pet? Hadidian says, first and foremost, never leave your pet unattended outside, particularly at night. Other ways to ward off wild animals: Keep food indoors, clean out your bird feeders, keep your dog on a leash when outside and don't keep food scraps in open trash cans outdoors. If you're extremely concerned, consider investing in fencing for your yard, too. A safe pet is a happy pet!

More stories of animal attacks on PEOPLE Pets:
Police Dog Bounces Back After Stabbing
Ex-French President Attacked by His Depressed Dog