I just have to ask though, how likely is it that someone would see a canine going up some stairs and not be able to identify it as at least canine...

I mean sure people think my coonhound mix is a rotweiler and that my husky pup is a wolf or coyote..one even called the animal cops..thank goodness for papers..the only time i have ever thought that too!
People though our red and white husky with blue eyes was a wolf too...
So while people are not too bright sometimes, I would imagine most people would see a canine and think hmm thats an odd looking Dog, or uh oh thats a coyote in my yard, or even holy crap is that a wolf!!

It's not a Bobcat.
They're short and stocky, I had one as a pet when I was a kid.

That looks like a monkey to me.

That's one blurry picture. If I took one and it was that bad I wouldn't even count it as hard evidence. Seriously. This is bad.