Our excitement for the day
By Thoroughrob
@Thoroughrob (11742)
United States
February 15, 2008 10:53pm CST
I was sitting at the computer, waiting for the bus to deliver my son home, that is in a wheelchair. My cat is just having a fit, he would meow really loud in the kitchen and come in and jump on my lap. He did this three times. I finally decided something wasn't right, so I go to the kitchen, and at the door is a racoon. He is just sitting there. He looks sick or something. My son is due anytime on the bus, and it is the only way I can get him in the house. I made alot of noise on the door and the racoon just looked at me. It looked horrible, it had been hit by a car, or was very sick. We live on a main street in town. I ended up calling the police and telling them my problem, they came out, and chased it away. They said it looks sick, but we did not want to shoot it close to your house. Hello!! We are not allowed to shoot anything inside the city limits, besides water guns. They told me if it comes back, call us again. What for? I thought they would either capture it, or kill it, as it looked very strange. It isn't going to stay gone either. It was there again when I came home this evening. It hobbled away as we came up the ramp. I had called the bus driver and he took my son on a long bus ride and delivered him home after he was done with his whole route. At least by then, he could get in the house. We have a 25 foot ramp he has to come up and I am not sure what will happen if that wheelchair would come close to that animal.
5 people like this
14 responses
@sherrir101 (3670)
• Malinta, Ohio
16 Feb 08
Wow. If it would have been me, I would have been a screaming idiot. I do not handle things like that very well. LOL
Is your town out in the middle of the country? Are there woods nearby? Do you live on the edge of town? It had to come from something like that. I am glad that your son was able to get into the house. Have you tried calling your local dog warden, humane society or animal shelter? They might be able to help you with this problem..
@Rozie37 (15499)
• Turkmenistan
16 Feb 08
We once had an odd looking bird in our back hard and I think it was the animal rescue that I called. For some reason the beautiful bird was no longer able to take flight. They came out and picked up the bird and took him away.
I can not think of exactly who to call, but you can not just let the racoon stay in your area. He may have rabbies. If I were you, I would call someone else to get that thing, before it bites somebody or their pet.
2 people like this
@jennybianca (12912)
• Australia
19 Feb 08
Better still, why didn't the police call the humane society or wildlife people to come & put the racoon down humanely?
Really, the police could have done more than this.
I dont know much about racoons? Can they be dangerous?
@twoey68 (13627)
• United States
17 Feb 08
OMG...I feel so bad for that poor little raccoon. To be hurt and/or sick and no one to help him. What about calling animal control? Where I live, they would catch it and either put it down or get it medically help. If it's that sickly/hurt another animal will surely kill it...one of those survival of the fittest things. I can't believe that the police did nothing but chase it off. I hope the little fella gets some help or is put out of his misery.
**AT PEACE WITHIN**
~~STAND STRONG IN YOUR BELIEFS~~
1 person likes this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
16 Feb 08
What kind of friggin idiots were the cops to just chase the raccoon away...if anything they maybe should have then called something like animal care and control, even though I'm not fond of them. One has to be so careful with raccoons...don't get me wrong, I love them, think they're cute as hell, but so many have rabies. Is there an animal care and control in your area, if so, if you see the raccoon again, call them, not the stupid police who didn't do diddly squat
2 people like this
@drannhh (15219)
• United States
16 Feb 08
That is a sad story. It is unfortunate when people cannot protect themselves on their own property. I have heard that some of the dangerous wild animals are being taken out of areas where they have natural predators and relocated to places where they have none and then they are like bullies, taking over the forests. Where I grew up it was dense forest and we coexisted with most of the animals most of the time, but we were allowed to kill dangerous animals before they attacked and hurt anyone, and of course, protect our animals, too. I don't know what the world is coming to.
I hope someone who reads this will be able to offer up a good suggestion on how to handle such a situation as you describe.
2 people like this
@JoyfulOne (6232)
• United States
16 Feb 08
Scary!!! I'm surprised that the police didn't have somebody try and trap it. If this happened in my neck of the woods, they would have caught it, caged it, and checked it for rabies. Chasing it away doesn't solve the problem, and I am amazed that this never crossed their minds. It is not normal for any wild animal to approach people, especially twice. You were very wise to keep your son away!
If it was me and the police didn't do anything more than scare it away, I would call my mayor, or the health department ...voice your concerns about it and telling them you're not sure if it was hit by a car or if it possibly has rabies or something. (Empahsize the rabies concern!!) Repeat that it frequents the doorway/ramp area where your son, in a wheelchair, has to come in. Believe me, the last thing any health dept would want to have to deal with is an animal that possibly has rabies. If that doesn't do the trick, then I'd be pressed to call the local news investigative team to make a stink about it and see why something hasn't been done to remove a potentially dangerous animal. That's what I'd do anyways, out where I live rabies is a big problem, and it would be taken care of quickly just to make sure the animal wasn't infected and infecting other animals along the way.
@GardenGerty (160488)
• United States
17 Feb 08
How sad, it needs to be picked up and dealt with by animal control. I am glad you have a co operative bus driver.
1 person likes this
@Lakota12 (42600)
• United States
16 Feb 08
wow poor thing.
and scared you!
glad the police got it away from hose maybe animal control can catch it and see what is wrong with it.
Sounds to me like it wants someone to help it.
but this ya cant do in a wheelchair and glad son got in house ok!
Hugs
1 person likes this
@Sissygrl (10912)
• Canada
16 Feb 08
I think that you should call the humain society or the pest control people, what if the raccoon has rabies? It might just be sick or hit by a car like you said, but they dont usually come up to people's houses and ask for help! lol they are usually scared of humans are they not!? maybe someone was feeding that one nearby your house and he's confused as to where he is.. I would try the humane society first, as that wouldnt cost you anything, pest control might try to charge you for catching the animal and putting it down. Good luck with your racoon troubles, and let us know what comes of it!
1 person likes this
@CinderInMySoul (4717)
• United States
16 Feb 08
i think they are very cute animals..but like the ppl above said...it looking sick is an entirely different matter!
why in the world didnt the police call Animal Control?? theres got to be some kind of department that deals with these situations. maybe those particular officers just didnt want to "deal" with waiting for animal control and all that..which is pretty messed up considering the chances of it being infected with rabies!
id definatly check your phone book for the dog catcher or humane society or animal control department..and be ready with the number if/when that raccoon shows up again. you just cant take the chance of your family being bit or your pets being bit!
1 person likes this
@aretha (2538)
• United States
16 Feb 08
i can't beleive they did nothing. that racoon could be so dangerus. i am sure it is hurt or sick so why in the world did they do nothing. we lived in an old farm house and people would drop off cats most of them ended up being wild. one of the cats that was there started coming to the door and tried to come in if i opened the door. this scared me cuz we had gone through the rabies shots once and now i had kids. anyway i called the vets and he said that if a wild animal like this gets sick they will come around to get help. i just can't beleive they did nothing if it is rabies you have other animals and kids. i would call animal control next time.
1 person likes this
