To the Editor:
I have lived in the Beaumont area for over 60 years. I went to Beaumont and Grant. We have raised our children here, and now grandchildren attend Alameda and Beaumont (just promoted to Grant). For as long as I can remember, this has been home—and we’ve no desire to be anywhere else.
Yesterday was one perfect example (of many!) why we love being here. My mother and I were returning from a family gathering when my car stalled on NE 42nd, between Beaumont Market and The Arrangement. I couldn’t get it started again. So I jumped out, opened the hood, and sent my poor mother to walk the rest of the way home to Skidmore Street.
I knew my mother was safe in our neighborhood as she walks all over, every day. I knew I was safe, waiting for AAA to arrive 25 minutes later. No fewer than 7 (yep, s-e-v-e-n) passers-by stopped to see if I needed help. Everyone was pleasant and kind, even those I had to wave around my car as they approached the intersection from behind me.
When the AAA rescue truck arrived, I told the driver how nice everyone had been. He said, “Oh, in this neighborhood you’re real lucky. There are some places in the City where there are ‘real pieces of work’ that would take advantage of your situation. But here, you’re in good hands.” Even the rescue truck operator knew how lucky we are.
Living in the Beaumont-Wilshire neighborhood is like living in a small town. And we are very fortunate to be here. It is a pleasure to live in an area where neighbors take care of one another. That’s one big reason why we stay!
Thank you all in the BWNA who work hard to assure that our neighborhood thrives. Your interests and attention to the relevant issues help to keep us going strong in this livable, lovable part of Portland.
—Nancy Doty
To the Editor:
I have lived in the Beaumont-Wilshire neighborhood on 42nd Avenue since 2005. Never have I seen the wildlife problem in our neighborhood getting so out of hand. Bears, cougars, coyotes, and raccoons live among us. But three out of four of those species are removed from our neighborhoods. Raccoons are not. My two dogs and I were viciously attacked on July 9th by a very large raccoon, estimated at between 20-30 lbs. I was taking my dogs out to go to the bathroom in my fenced backyard before bed, just before midnight. I own two dogs, a black teacup poodle and a white piebald mini dachshund. You may have seen us walking around the neighborhood. The raccoon came out of the shadows, and despite my sensor lights, went straight for my wiener dog, Snoopy. She was screaming in pain, and they somersaulted in a vicious battle. I repeatedly kicked the raccoon (in my flip flops) in an attempt to chase it away, but it retaliated by biting me on my shin and upper thigh, leaving huge lacerations and puncture wounds down both legs and on my foot. I was finally able to kick it off from Snoopy, but it then made its way to the other corner of our yard 25 ft. away and attacked my poodle Donny, who weighs only 5 lbs. I opened the gate so Snoopy could get out and went to save Donny. I was screaming for help at the top of my lungs, crying in pain, blood running down my legs, screaming in fear, so afraid that my dogs would die. When my neighbors came out to the rescue, Donny was in my arms, but Snoopy had vanished. We searched the neighborhood with flashlights for hours, walked up and down, looking in bushes, under cars, in the street… nothing. I was completely distraught. I had to get to the emergency room. Finding my dog would have to wait.
I spent hours that morning in the emergency room at Providence Hospital undergoing treatment for multiple bites and lacerations, while my mom continued to search the neighborhood for Snoopy. Hours later, Snoopy was found only a few blocks away from my house, badly injured. Mom took both dogs to Dove Lewis, where they got shaved, anesthetized, and stitched up for multiple bite and puncture wounds. I am lucky they are alive. I thank my lucky stars for my loving neighbors and my mother.
The Police referred me to Animal Control, and Animal Control referred me to the Health Department. The Animal Control staff person took a notation of the incident and informed me that since there have been no incidents of “rabies attacks” by raccoons reported in Oregon, it is not considered a priority. In other words, they don’t do anything. Next I contacted the Department of Fish and Wildlife but was told that due to budget cuts, staff is no longer available to deal with these kinds of issues. Additionally, I was advised that paying privately to hire a trapper would not work for me, because the raccoon doesn’t “reside” on my property. As a last resort, it was recommended that I take the issue up with the City of Portland as a public safety issue.
A major contributor to the problem, according to Fish and Wildlife, is the feeding of raccoons by humans. These are wild animals, NOT PETS, and should never be fed by humans, because it makes them fearless of humans and increases their aggressiveness and propensity to attack humans and pets. If only every resident would heed this common sense advice!
I am furious. My neighbors have small dogs. My other neighbors have babies, grandchildren, sons, and daughters. If this were an attack by a vicious dog, the dog would be euthanized. However, raccoons that attack humans are allowed to live. Pain and suffering, stitches, wounds, heartache, fear, and thousands of dollars of medical bills later, what price must we pay to be safe in our own back yards? The raccoons deserve to be trapped and euthanized.
—Annie Younger