Aggressive raccoon attacks puppy in Vancouver's West End

It was raccoon versus puppy in Vancouver'sWest Endand it ended with a trip to the hospitalfor the dog's owner.

Vancouver's Franois Morissettewas walking three-month-oldKiradown a sidewalk on Wednesday when the puppywas suddenly attacked.

"The raccoon basically jumped on Kira and when I grabbed my dog the raccoon was still holding on to her in some way, probably holding with the fur," Morisette said.

Kira was bitten in the leg and Morissette was also injured:He fell when trying to separate his dog fromthe raccoon, and ended up going to the hospital to getstitches.

Raccoonsare common in the West End and, now that spring is here, they are more activeoften with young ones to protect. In years past, Vancouverresidents have been bitten, and cats have beentargetedas well.

Two years ago, Drew Snider's cat Teeny was cornered by a gaze of raccoons.

"I just heard this terrible cat screaming sound and growling like the Tasmanian Devil and I found that these threeraccoonshas basically swarmed ourcat, and I chased them off with a pitch fork," Snider said.

Teeny had a punctured thigh and scrapes to the belly.

Morissettehas called the city, the province, even his MP. He wants the raccoon removed.

But the city's policy is for residents to coexist with wildlife,not to feed them and to discourage contact,especially if the critters' babies are nearby.

Neighbours who came to the window during Wednesday's attack feel forKiraand her owner, but say getting rid of theraccoonsjust isn't practical.

Morissettestill feels something should be done.He doesn't want to go through theexperience ever again.

"Just hearing her cry this way was probably one of the worst experiences of my life," he said.

The City of Vancouver saysthat while rabies isn't a concern in this case,canine distemper is; and Kirashould be checked out by a veterinarianand the dog's owner shouldmake sure her shots are up to date.