From ABC7 New York · · 1m 20s
Coyote attack rattles Fairfield neighborhood
A Fairfield woman and her two small dogs were attacked by an unusually aggressive coyote, prompting fresh safety warnings.
In brief
A Fairfield woman and her two small dogs were attacked by an unusually aggressive coyote, prompting fresh safety warnings. Keep small pets leashed, close, and indoors when possible if coyotes are active nearby, and never feed wild coyotes. Originally reported by ABC7 New York.
A walk turned violent
A Fairfield woman was walking two small dogs Monday afternoon when a coyote attacked in a wooded area on Catamount Road. She ran to a neighbor's home for help.
Yelling did not work
Neighbor Randy Newell tried to scare the coyote off by raising his arms and shouting, but the animal kept attacking.
“it had no impact whatsoever”
The dog was the target
Newell said the coyote seemed fixed on one small dog. As the dog hid around the woman's legs, both the woman and the pet were bitten.
“It was totally intent I believe, you know, going after the small dog.”
Another attack raised alarms
The Fairfield attack came three weeks after another unusually aggressive coyote attacked multiple dogs in another part of town.
Officials urge caution
Police and animal control are telling residents to keep pets indoors when possible, leash them outside, and avoid feeding coyotes.
Rabies is being checked
Police euthanized the coyote and sent it for testing. The woman has already started a series of rabies vaccine shots.
Here's the gist
Keep small pets leashed, close, and indoors when possible if coyotes are active nearby, and never feed wild coyotes.
