Raccoon bites dog, then owner

By BRIAN KELLY

Herald Writer

CAMANO ISLAND – A rowdy raccoon trying to make a meal of a wiener dog turned his teeth onto a 70-year-old woman who defended her dinky daschund with a flurry of footwear.

Betty Garrels had just opened her back door Monday night to let the little dog out for a nature call. But when Buddy bounded down the steps, a raccoon was waiting eight feet away.

The screeching raccoon, which weighed about 40 pounds and was three times bigger than Buddy, jumped on the daschund.

"He was trying to kill him, of course.

"It was vicious," Garrels recalled. "I was so upset I was screaming my head off."

Garrels grabbed a pair of walking shoes from the steps and whipped them at the raccoon. She then grabbed a pair of moccasins and threw those, too.

"I was throwing everything I could grab," she said.

All but one shoe missed.

Apparently, the raccoon wasn’t intimidated. Or amused.

As Garrels started to walk down the steps, the animal lunged.

"The raccoon let go of the dog and came after me, up on the porch. And he got me," Garrels said.

The raccoon jumped on her right leg and bit her, leaving at least four puncture marks. Her leg is swollen and bruised.

"It was just like lightning. I couldn’t believe how fast this animal was," she said.

But just as quickly, the raccoon turned back to Buddy and started attacking again.

Garrels picked up a green plastic watering can and threw it at the raccoon.

"It was enough to make him let go of the dog. Thank God," she said. "It was pretty much a miracle that the dog wasn’t killed … . If I would have gotten into it with him, he would have killed me, too. There’s no doubt about it."

Buddy now sports stitches on his right leg and down his back.

Garrels, who lives on Sunset Drive on the northwest side of the island and owns Nick’s espresso stand in Stanwood, was taken to Providence Everett Medical Center’s Colby campus for treatment. The raccoon wasn’t found, so it was impossible to determine whether it had rabies. That meant Garrels had to get shots.

Rabies vaccine to treat Garrels was sent to the Everett hospital in a taxi from Harborview Medical Center in Seattle. She began getting the shots early Tuesday morning: a shot in each hip, in her shoulder and in the wound.

"This is not fun," she said.

It’s not unusual for raccoons to bite humans, said Dr. Jo Hofmann, deputy health officer for the Snohomish Health District.

"Of all the wild animals out there, this is probably the most common" for bites, she said.

"They’re used to humans and pretty intrepid. They will come pretty close to you if they think you’re a source of food," Hofmann said.

Bites often occur when people try to break up a fight between a household pet and a raccoon, or when they try to feed the animals, she said.

There have been no reported cases of raccoons testing positive for rabies in Washington, although rabid raccoons are relatively common in the eastern United States, she said.

Garrels said she has four additional hospital visits for shots, the last in mid-August.

Even so, she’s upbeat.

"I am so lucky, and the dog, too. I feel so blessed, ‘cause it could have been so much worse," Garrels said.

She has advice, too, for folks who think raccoons are cute and cuddly:

"Stay away from them. They’re darling, but they’re also a wild animal."

You can call Herald Writer Brian Kelly at 425-339-3422 or send e-mail to

kelly@heraldnet.com.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Local News

Customers enter and exit the Costco on Dec. 2, 2022, in Lake Stevens. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Costco stores could be impacted by looming truck driver strike threat

Truck drivers who deliver groceries and produce to Costco warehouses… Continue reading

Two Washington State ferries pass along the route between Mukilteo and Clinton as scuba divers swim near the shore Sunday, Oct. 22, 2023, in Mukilteo, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Ferry system increases ridership by a half million in 2024

Edmonds-Kingston route remains second-busiest route in the system.

Northshore School District bus driver Stewart O’Leary pictured next to his buses shattered drivers side windshield on Friday, Feb. 14, 2025 in Bothell, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
‘Put me in, coach’: Bus driver back at work after struck by metal bar

Stewart O’Leary, a Northshore employee, has received national attention for his composure during a frightening bus trip.

Robin Cain with 50 of her marathon medals hanging on a display board she made with her father on Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025 in Lake Stevens, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Running a marathon is hard. She ran one in every state.

Robin Cain, of Lake Stevens, is one of only a few thousand people to ever achieve the feat.

People line up to grab food at the Everett Recovery Cafe on Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Coffee, meals and compassion are free at the Everett Recovery Cafe

The free, membership-based day center offers free coffee and meals and more importantly, camaraderie and recovery support.

The Everett Wastewater Treatment Plant along the Snohomish River on Thursday, June 16, 2022 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Everett water, sewer rates could jump 43% by 2028

The rate hikes would pay for improvements to the city’s sewer infrastructure.

The bond funded new track and field at Northshore Middle School on Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024 in Bothell, Washington. (Courtesy of Northshore School District)
Northshore School District bond improvements underway

The $425 million bond is funding new track and field complexes, playgrounds and phase one of two school replacements.

An American Robin picks a berry from a holly tree on Thursday, Feb. 13, 2025 in Edmonds, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Calling all birders for the annual Great Backyard Bird Count

The Audubon Society will hold its 28th annual Great Backyard… Continue reading

A view of one of the potential locations of the new Aquasox stadium on Monday, Feb. 26, 2024 in Everett, Washington. The site sits between Hewitt Avenue, Broadway, Pacific Avenue and the railroad. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Initial prep work for AquaSox stadium to start, with $200k price tag

The temporary agreement allows some surveying and design work as the city negotiates contracts with designers and builders.

Aaron Kennedy / The Herald
The Joann Fabric and Crafts store at 7601 Evergreen Way, Everett, is one of three stores in Snohomish County that will close as part of the retailer’s larger plan to shutter more than half of its stores nationwide.
Joann store closure plan includes Everett, Arlington, Lynnwood locations

The retail giant filed a motion in court to close approximately 500 stores in the U.S.

Lynnwood
Lynnwood police: 1 suspect in custody, 1 at large after attempted carjacking

Beverly Elementary School went into a precautionary lockdown Thursday afternoon. Numerous officers continue to search for the second suspect.

Candidates announce campaigns for Everett city council seat

Ryan Crowther, founder of the Everett Music Initiative, will challenge incumbent Paula Rhyne for the District 2 seat.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.