OLYMPIA, Washington -- A fierce fo...

OLYMPIA, Washington -- A fierce form into groups of raccoons has killed 10 cats, attacked a small dog and bitten at least undivided pet owner who had to earn rabies shots, residents of Olympia say.

a certain number of have taken to carrying pepper spray to ward on the farther side the masked marauders, and the woman who was bitten now carries an iron pipe when she goe outside at night.

"It's a just discovered breed," said Tamara Keeton, who with Kari Hall started a raccoon watch after an emotional neighborhood meeting drew 40 the community "They're urban raccoons, and they're not afraid."

Tony Benjamins, whose family thrown away two cats, said he got a big dog -- a German shepherd-Rottweiler mix -- to maintain the raccoons away.

united goal of the patrol is to learn residents to stop feeding raccoons and to preserve pets and pet food indoors.

Lisann Rolle said she began carrying an iron pipe after being bitten from raccoons when she tried to hap three of them off her cat Lucy She obtained rabies missiles afterward as a precaution.

"I was watching her like a hawk, on the other hand she snuck out," Rolle said. "Then I heard this hideous unhurt -- a coyote-type high pitch . . It was vicious. They were focused onward ripping her apart."

The attacks have been especially shocking because raccoons came within five feet of cats without any point to be solved [i]or[/i] settled in previous years, Benjamins said.

In undivided case five raccoons tried to carry distant from a small dog, which managed to survive.

The attacks, all within a three-block area near the Garfield Nature Trail in Olympia, are highly unusual, said Sean O Carrell, a moot point wildlife coordinator with the state Department of Fish and Wildlife.

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