FAIRFIELD, Connecticut (WABC) — A Fairfield woman is recovering after being attacked by a coyote Monday afternoon.<\/p>\n
Randy Newell says he tried to scare off the coyote that was attacking his neighbor and her two small dogs Monday afternoon, but the animal did not back away.<\/p>\n
Newell said he attempted to make himself appear larger and shouted at the coyote as it attacked.<\/p>\n
“I kind of came off the step, just raised my hands and yelled with everything that I had as loud as I could. I’m a little bit hoarse Tuesday just because of that. And on this particular coyote, it had no impact whatsoever,” Newell said.<\/p>\n
The incident happened Monday afternoon on Catamount Road in Fairfield. A woman walking her two small dogs in a heavily wooded area ran to the Newells’ home for help after a coyote attacked. Homes in the area are spaced apart.<\/p>\n
Newell said the coyote appeared focused on one of the dogs.<\/p>\n
“It was totally intent I believe, you know, going after the small dog. And of course, the small dog was trying to hide around the woman’s legs, and so she was getting bit. The dog was getting, you know, bit and so forth. It was not a good scene,” he said.<\/p>\n
The attack comes three weeks after another unusually aggressive coyote attacked multiple dogs<\/a> in a different part of Fairfield. As in that earlier incident, police and animal control officials are warning residents to keep pets indoors when possible, keep them leashed while outdoors and avoid feeding coyotes.<\/p>\n Newell said coyotes are commonly seen in the area because of the large tracts of connected open space behind his home, but he said this animal’s behavior was unusual.<\/p>\n “We’re up against, you know, almost 2,000 acres behind us. And they use this as a pathway to get to other, other open space. That’s all connected here. And it’s a beautiful, serene spot to live. But this was totally out of the ordinary. And I think they’ll probably find that this, that the dog was rabid. The coyote was rabid,” he said.<\/p>\n The animal was euthanized by police and is being tested. The victim has already begun receiving a series of rabies vaccine shots.<\/p>\n ———-<\/p>\n * More Connecticut news<\/a><\/p>\n * Send us a news tip<\/a><\/p>\n * Download the abc7NY app for breaking news alerts<\/a> <\/p>\n * Download our connected TV app<\/a> <\/p>\n
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