Woman and dogs attacked by raccoon in downtown Vancouver

VANCOUVER – A Vancouver woman is recovering after she was attacked by a raccoon while walking her dogs in the city’s downtown.

Witnesses say they heard screams Wednesday night in the city’s Coal Harbour district, and looked outside to see a large raccoon scratching and biting the woman and her dogs.

Laura Skelton says she witnessed the attack from her fifth-floor apartment and saw an animal that was larger than her own pet dog, which is about eight kilograms.

Skelton says onlookers were able to scare away the raccoon and then tend to the woman, who was panicked after the attack.

Vancouver police say the woman was taken to hospital with minor injuries and received a tetanus shot, while one of the dogs also sustained minor injuries.

Neighbours suspect a woman in a nearby building has been feeding raccoons in the area, making them less scared of humans.