ANDOVER, MA (WCVB/CNN) - Maureen Bailey was walking outside when she thought a dog ran up to her, but it turned out to be a raccoon that was rabid.
Bailey, 75, was bitten by the large, aggressive raccoon on the calf and the animal didn't seem to want her to get away.
"The only time I think I really kind of panicked is when he wouldn't let me walk," Bailey said. "I went to go walk and he cornered me."
Andover police responded and captured the raccoon at a nearby convenience store. The animal was later euthanized.
The attack is unusual, and especially rare considering it happened during the day.
"Typically it's not an animal that is out in the daytime," Edward Guy of the Andover Police Department said. "In this particular instance, the animal was out at 10 a.m. in a parking lot where people were coming and going."
Officials don't believe the raccoon came into contact with any other people, but they are urging residents to check their pets for wounds and get them checked out.
Bailey took the encounter - and her bite - in stride and is just glad she won't need further treatment.
"I was happy because at least the shots weren't wasted," Bailey said. "And they're not as bad as people think."
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