Current Events > There is currently a raccoon outside my apartment, probably dying

(+) Yeah! (+)

He's in the shade, so protected from the worst of the heat. But he was obviously dehydrated. Gulped down so much water, but ignored the food. Looks like his back left leg might be broken. He can't stand right, slumps right back down when he attempts to. Can't even climb the curb. Flies are buzzing around him, and he looks like he's at the end of the line. Still breathing, though. I called animal control, but who knows how long they'll take.

I left food and water out, hopefully he can partake. Maybe it's the fact that I'm going through a hypomanic episode right now, but I nearly broke down crying outside while trying to help this little dude. I saved that for inside.

Feels like shit, man.

All animal control is going to do is shoot it like Stan Smith

Irony posted...

All animal control is going to do is shoot it like Stan Smith

What else can be done, though? Let him die slowly outside, suffering?

Hold its hand

Google to see if there is an animal rehab shelter nearby that will get him?

chris1001_the_sequel posted...

Google to see if there is an animal rehab shelter nearby that will get him?

All closed.

Xenogears15 posted...

Let him die slowly outside, suffering?

it's showing mercy to put an animal out of misery (only if all saving options are exhausted). it's not the favored scenario but better than the other option.

Call a rehabilitation center.

He's still somehow alive. Jesus fucking Christ.

LonelyStoner posted...

Call a rehabilitation center.

All the rescue shelters seek to be closed until noon, and I'm not sure if they will take this one in.

Xenogears15 posted...

All the rescue shelters seek to be closed until noon, and I'm not sure if they will take this one in.

i would still try in an hour or three (depending on the time zone) this trooper isn't giving up yet.

Be careful if you go out to try and help him yourself, TC, as he might try to bite you or scratch you out of fear, and you definitely dont want to risk catching any illnesses or diseases that the little fella might have picked up previously.

Not saying you shouldnt try to help him or at the very least ease his suffering, just exercise caution since it wont be good for either of you if you get hurt in the process of trying to help him.

Depending on else it's behaving, it could have distemper. I only base that on the stumbling comment.

I know we had a raccoon with it in the yard, and while animal control was on the way I watched it climb the same tree about 30-35 times, each time reaching 10-20 feet high before tumbling to the ground with a thud. Then it did it all over again.

I also watched a different one literally gnaw its own front paw off around the same time. So if there's pets that might interact with it, definitely want to keep them away if it is.

Also try calling exotic vets, they sometimes layover hurt unusual animals until proper rescue places open up. Edit: I did this when a groundhog was fucked up in my yard the other year. Poor guy wasn't visibily injured, but he was ass-first out of his hole and just struggling to live/eat/drink and was "sneezing."

Rescue services were closed, called an exotic vet, some nice assistant came and scooped him up.

I contacted multiple rescue agencies and shelters. All of them told me the same thing: they refuse to accept raccoons, due to a parasite that they may carry.

Looks like animal control is the only option here, unless I want to walk outside and shoot it myself (which will make many more problems).

Haven't felt this bad in awhile.

Hope his story gets a happy ending. Keep us updated.

Xenogears15 posted...

shoot it myself

damn the only pain-free method is gone. animal control will end up shooting it anyway.

Is raccoon ok

well shit this story sucks

kingdrake2 posted...

damn the only pain-free method is gone. animal control will end up shooting it anyway.

I think animal control took it. Drove by on my way home and that raccoon was gone. No way it had the strength to move on its own. I just hope that it's end was merciful and that it didn't just waste away to death in the street.

I called animal control, but who knows how long they'll take.

Since it's not an emergency and the animal is likely injured rather than diseased (thus no incentive to pick up the carcass in time to test its brain), don't expect them to come anytime soon. Enjoy the smell.

Xenogears15 posted...

I think animal control took it. Drove by on my way home and that raccoon was gone. No way it had the strength to move on its own. I just hope that it's end was merciful and that it didn't just waste away to death in the street.

Either that or a coyote did.

FYI I despise raccoons. They spread the (mostly child)-deadly raccoon roundworm, killed 2 of my chickens, and it's impossible to keep them out of your trash.

I had a similar situation back in maybe 2008. I went outside one Saturday morning to do some shopping and I saw a raccoon laying in the grass on one side of the place I lived. It didn't do anything when I approached it and I thought maybe it was just not feeling well, so I left to do my shopping. When I got back home, my mother and a policeman were outside near the raccoon. My mother called the police because she saw the raccoon and felt something was wrong with it.

After a little goading, the officer felt it was best to put the raccoon down. I didn't want to be near when it happened so I went inside and down to my room and started crying, and after a few seconds I heard the gunshot. When I went out later, I could see the bullet hole in the ground.

I haven't thought about that in years and it still makes me sad.

Hyena_Of_Ice posted...

deadly raccoon roundworm, killed 2 of my chickens,

oh damn. hopefully neither of those happened to be buff orphington or barred rock (they're favorites).

Hey guys, just a heads up, never EVER approach any wild animal (especially raccoons) that seems injured or is "acting weird). That's a good way to get bit by an animal with rabies.

Keep your distance, and call a wildlife rehab center or animal control.

If you do approach and your well meaning but stupid ass gets scratched or bit, go to the emergency room and let the doctors know what bit/scratched you. You're probably going to get a fun set of shots over the next few days to make sure you don't end your days strapped to a bed under heavy sedation and waiting to die as rabies fries your brain.

itcheyness posted...

You're probably going to get a fun set of shots over the next few days to make sure you don't end your days strapped to a bed under heavy sedation and waiting to die as rabies fries your brain

our brain is already fried. also to note... back in the old days it used to be 7 shots in the stomach.

now it's 5 shots in the arm over 14 days (and they hurt) worse than the tetanus shot.

Xenogears15 posted...

I contacted multiple rescue agencies and shelters. All of them told me the same thing: they refuse to accept raccoons, due to a parasite that they may carry.

Looks like animal control is the only option here, unless I want to walk outside and shoot it myself (which will make many more problems).

Haven't felt this bad in awhile.

Yeah, unfortunately raccoons can carry a lot of parasites in their poop.

Irony posted...

All animal control is going to do is shoot it like Stan Smith

Learned this the hard way trying to save a rabbit once. The shelter most likely will just euthanize it.

GeminiDeus posted...

I had a similar situation back in maybe 2008. I went outside one Saturday morning to do some shopping and I saw a raccoon laying in the grass on one side of the place I lived. It didn't do anything when I approached it and I thought maybe it was just not feeling well, so I left to do my shopping. When I got back home, my mother and a policeman were outside near the raccoon. My mother called the police because she saw the raccoon and felt something was wrong with it.

After a little goading, the officer felt it was best to put the raccoon down. I didn't want to be near when it happened so I went inside and down to my room and started crying, and after a few seconds I heard the gunshot. When I went out later, I could see the bullet hole in the ground.

I haven't thought about that in years and it still makes me sad.

Yeah, something similar happened to me with a deer once. I didn't see the poor creature, but got a knock on the door from animal control. They just let me know that a sick deer was in my yard and they were going to have to shoot it. Felt awful for the poor creature.

Youre going to get rabies messing around with that thing.

Rest in peace, noble raccoon