A mysterious beast that has been devouring animals on Bowen Island north of Vancouver struck again over the weekend, attacking another dog.

According to local reports, several pet dogs and cats have gone missing, or been found dead, and deer carcasses have been found partially eaten, since the creature was first spotted in January.

Even a local swan was reportedly killed by the creature, but locals have been frustrated by the municipality's inability to catch the beast, which is thought to be a wolf-dog hybrid.

On Saturday, island resident Jack Little was out for a walk, when suddenly his dog Fergus ran off into the brush.

"Then a few seconds later I could hear my dog in pain. He was being attacked. By the time we got there, we couldn't find him," he said.

Little believes his terrier had been mauled and dragged away by the now infamous wolf-dog.

Fergus later escaped, and turned up suffering from a vicious attack. Little took him to the vet to get stitched up.

"Yeah he's got deep bite marks on the back of his neck and his throat, and lots and lots of stitches," said Little.

Not wildlife

Nobody from the municipality returned calls to the CBC, but Little says the bylaw department told him because the animal is a hybrid it doesn't come under wildlife regulations and officials can't shoot it.

Instead Bowen has hired a trapper last month to humanely capture the animal, but so far it continues to elude those efforts.

Little's wife Andrea says people on the island are frustrated at the lacklustre effort to catch it.

"I think people are very frustrated. I think that is partially because they really don't know what is going on. There has been a lack of communication in terms what the efforts entail, what the progress is, and of how committed the island is in terms of trying to catch this animal," said Andrea Little.

According to a message posted by the municipality, residents should take precautions if they encounter the animal.

"The public are reminded that if they encounter the hybrid they should remain calm, back away slowly, don't run, take refuge in a safe place. The public may wish to take further precautions. Please do not leave children or pets outdoors unattended," according to the message.