Letter to the Editor: Don't feed the raccoons
Wednesday, July 3, 2024
Our dog was attacked by two raccoons as we left our condo last night. We spent till 2:00am at the pet emergency center.
For anyone out there who thinks that feeding raccoons helps anything, please stop. Every single expert says do not feed wild raccoons.
Our neighbor has been consistently feeding the raccoons all around our unit. The population exploded to 9 with 5 cubs, and the neighbor refused to believe that it could become a problem, in spite of what everyone with knowledge says about it.
This family of nine raccoons came to consider our property a part of their den, apparently. They became extremely territorial and aggressive towards us.
If you want to keep a healthy environment for pets, people, and raccoons: NEVER FEED WILD RACCOONS
It will lead to a raft of painful problems.
Our dog has 4 - 5 puncture wounds and a laceration that needed to be stitched. He's doing okay. It could have been much worse.
Our dog has 4 - 5 puncture wounds and a laceration that needed to be stitched. He's doing okay. It could have been much worse.
Luckily I was following close behind my partner as she left with the dog, and I followed up, kicking the raccoons as hard as I could to get them to leave. It was a wild attack, probably lasted 45 seconds, but it seemed like an hour. I could see that my partner and the dog were losing their battle with the two raccoons. Thank God I was there to kick them.
Name withheld (but known to Editor)
Shoreline
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4 comments:
Years ago something similar happened to my 90lb dog. We let her out before bed and two raccoons attacked her in our backyard. We heard the dog cry out and my husband went to investigate. Two raccoons had her pinned down and wouldn't let go. He started yelling and took a pipe to them and it took some time before they decided to retreat. We had to take her to the vet for stitches and a rabies booster. Raccoons are not your friend.
Dear Editor and to the writer about their dog being attacked by raccoons.
I am sorry about the attack on your dog, I know that it was a very traumatic event.
I hope that the veterinarian suggested that you contact the State Fish and Wildlife Service to report the large number of raccoons and that your neighbor is feeding them. Below is copied from the King County Animal Control website:
For questions about healthy or nuisance wildlife, please contact the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife for more information:
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife https://wdfw.wa.gov/about/contact
425-775-1311 360-902-2200
I hope that your dog recovers quickly!
Don't feed raccoons, and don't feed coyotes either. When you let your cat or small dog outside, that's how you feed coyotes.
Coyotes are faster, stronger, and smarter than cats. Yes, even your cat who knows how to open doors. There are always Lost Cat signs posted around my neighborhood. 99% of these cats won't make it home if they've been gone for longer than a week.
Don't become a statistic.
Agreed! Feeding racoons or any wild animal takes away the wild animal's wildness - they cannot even teach their young how to find food - just keeps them tied to the free food source.
I've known people who think they are "doing a good thing", but just the opposite. It creates problems for generations of that species - turns them into monsters, too, sometimes, when they don't get the food they EXPECT. Or if dogs want to eat from their own food bowl.
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