Scout, our yellow lab, has always been a winner when going up against the nasty, annoying raccoons who visit our backyard. His barking, grunting and general badass attitude have scared off many a raccoon over the years.
Maybe you remember this story? I’ve been angry at those critters ever since they ate the heads off every one of the gold fish in our pond. They continue to make a mess of our pond, uprooting plants, throwing rocks and eating tadpoles. We’ve been able to relocate a couple we’ve caught in a trap to a rural location, but they continue to harass us with their destruction.
Yesterday morning was the final straw in my mostly gentle attitude toward those little beasts. As is normal every morning Handy Man let Scout outside to do his business. We can always tell if we’ve had or are currently having a visit from a raccoon because Scout starts making grunting noises and runs back and forth between the pond and the gate sniffing like crazy. That did not happen yesterday. What happened instead was the scariest and creepiest howling and crying I’ve ever heard come from my dog’s mouth.
Handy Man ran outside and kicked the raccoon who had attached it’s mouth to Scout’s leg and was refusing to let go. The raccoon escaped over the fence and Handy Man brought Scout in the house. After an inspection blood was found and it was decided HM would take Scout to the vet when it opened.
The vet said the raccoon basically “corn cobbed” his leg leaving multiple lacerations requiring 15 stitches, a rabies shot and 3 different medications. On top of the injuries on his leg, the raccoon also got a claw or tooth in one of his ears, where the vet also discovered he had an ear infection (totally unrelated to the raccoon attack). The vet also said the raccoon just missed severing a tendon which would have required surgery and 12 weeks in a cast. Anyone with a lab knows what a nightmare that would have been.
It’s truly amazing how much destruction one little animal caused in a manner of seconds. Please send healing thoughts to my puppy, he needs them!
Poor Scout!!I hope he recovers quickly. When I was a kid our beagle would've been killed by raccoons except the neighbor happened to be near and cleared them out. The little turds are tough.
Posted by: Jen | August 12, 2011 at 02:14 PM
In my next life? I'm gonna be a Vet. Healing thought s to Scout and his parents' wallet....
Posted by: Mental P Mama | August 12, 2011 at 05:15 PM
How scary! I have heard raccoons are nasty creatures.
Posted by: Jenn @ Juggling Life | August 12, 2011 at 09:03 PM
Raccoons are mean .. poor pup I hope he heals fast .. now I would call animal control and see if they have traps you can set
Posted by: Daryl | August 14, 2011 at 07:14 AM
We here in the AG house have dropped significant $ saving Buddy from his raccoon altercations. Wishing Scout a hasty recovery and all raccoons a face to face meeting with my dad!
Posted by: AG | August 14, 2011 at 11:32 AM
Poor Scout. I am sending lots and lots of healing thoughts. Poor little guy.
Posted by: Meg | August 16, 2011 at 09:37 AM