People In Toronto Made Memorial For Dead Raccoon After City Forgot To Pick It Up For 12 Hrs
United by mourning and healing, the people of Toronto have rallied around an anonymous hero – a dead raccoon who lay on the sidewalk for more than 12 hours before the city’s animal services finally scooped it up to take it to a better place.
After he was reported to Toronto’s city administration and animal control department on the morning of July 9th, more than 12 hours elapsed before he was eventually removed. In that time, a memorial shrine was erected around the poor raccoon, complete with photos, cards, candles, roses, and a trending hashtag – #deadraccoonto. At around 11:00 at night, the party was over – animal services finally picked him up, more than a little chagrined. But the Toronto raccoon was not forgotten, and people were still lighting candles in memoriam.
More info: Twitter
At 9 A.M. on Thursday, a man in Toronto reported a dead raccoon on the sidewalk to the city
Message received
Around noon, however, someone placed a note next to it
6 hours later, he was found with a flower, a card and a framed photo
Someone gave the raccoon its own personal memorial hastag, #DeadRaccoonTO
Sharpies and memorial cards appeared
At around 8 P.M., he was still there, and the flowers were piling up
One city councilor offered to leave bins open as a sign of mourning and respect
The councilor even made a Drake reference
Almost 12 hours later – at 8:20 P.M. – the raccoon was still there
Passersby began a candlelight vigil
Someone even places a Jesus candle
“The proper authorities will only move this little fella when enough funds are raised”
People continued to leave him messages of love and grief
Toronto’s animal services showed up around 11:00
Goodnight, sweet prince
He’s gone, but people are still lighting candles
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Personally, I think that they dignified the poor creatures demise; death is a fact of life but for it to have been left lying on the sidewalk for such a long time was stripping it of its dignity. The flowers and candles were a tongue-in-cheek critique of Animal Services but also respectful to the animal.
Yeah whatever spirit it was done in, that was beautiful. The framed photo almost made me cry. I think we all would want to remembered that way. .
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Canada man....land of Bieber and compassion to literally everything and everyone.
Yup, that's us minus Bieber of course. We don't want him either.
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I'm sorry but I would have taken the poor thing after a few hours and buried it myself but I live up north where that might be more possible then downtown Toronto? But I would have taken the time to box it up so no children had too see or birds getting at it.
Never mind all these "It could be sick" people... If it is sick you prob don't wanna eat it for supper but to pick it up in a box and bury it is just fine. Nothing gonna happen to you and if you think it does you really need to educate yourself a bit better. Would have done the same thing, just pick it up and bury it. Let the bugs do the rest. Because in about a couple of days there is nothing left for any dog or other animal to dig up.. dumb city people have no clue.. sigh
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I would love this to be sincere and not a joke. As a buddhist I hope he is a Pure Land now. And for the people who joked about this, please think about that for a moment. He/she is just like us. Show some respect for a dead being, the next one could be any of you.
What are you referring to? The tweets? Because they showed immense respect for the raccoon! It was rather heart warming!
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I lke to think that this is a sincere act by people that 'knew' this racoon because there's also a photo of it very much alive although I know this could be a cynical act too. But I agree with Sherry I would have removed it after a few hours & buried it on my garden & probably planted something pretty over it. No doubt I will get negative remarks about disease now. But I live in the UK & there would be no concern about disease here. I've buried cats that I've found on the road & as I have cats of my own, l like to think someone honour my cats in the same way if it was found dead on the road. <3
I don't think that's a picture of this particular raccoon. It was a sweet, albeit tongue in cheek gesture. It's very kind what you do for the cats you find.
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Wow! Canada seems like a truly lovely country! Here in the US, if a Republican found it, Fox News would have shown it every 15 minutes accompanied by medical experts to terrorize the public into fearing an outbreak of disease and used it as an excuse to privatize the animal control department. Then, their commentators would have come up with 20 reasons for why this was all Obama's fault...
Wow. What an interesting thing to have brought people together like that. I find it very endearing and restores a tad bit more of my faith in humanity.
Sweet, silly. City should have done something much sooner. I would have done something myself if I'd been there, if only to remove her to the bushes or the side of the sidewalk.
Actually, I'm not sure that it is a good way to make some kind a statement over a dead body (who ever it is). People learned to care too little. Today you are making fun of this bad situation, lighting candles next to dead raccoon, leaving cards etc. tomorrow you will make selfies next to a person who past away on the street. I understand that this should be a statement to a miserable state service, but if you ask me you would made a better statement if you've just removed poor raccoon from the street by yourselves.
And the day after you unknowingly kill your family with a leaf blower.
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Good for you. I reported dead cat on the tram (streetcar) stop in one for the Polish cities. No response for four days... Average temperature was +25C / +77F. I always have a question where my taxes and ticket fee foes?
I dedicate this comment to this lovely raccoon. Seen as nothing but a meer "pest" most of his/her life, finally, get's to live in heaven. May you rest in peace, raccoon.
btw this comment sounds like a joke, but I swear it's not.
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why didn't anyone picked the poor thing up and throw it in the garbage?
Yes he is dead from massive immigration taking of the raccoons territory and there is no where left for them to live now. Toronto used to be one big ravine and it was their home..
Whilst I feel sorry for the poor raccoon and am equally shocked that it took so long for its removal off the sidewalk, I could not help but see the Dark Humorous side of it all.
Ha! Clearly you've never been to Canada. I'm typing this now from my frozen computer in my igloo, Eh?
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I fed rocky in 2019, he's still alive and well, enjoying all the snacks bellwood has to offer.
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Hahaha! Dignified death! Such a modern, western concept! There were times when we were eaten, beaten to death, tortured, shot, maimed, burned, exploded. It still happens y'know! A LOT!
I think the story is uplifting and shows how creative yet respectful people can be ...... good job!
So often "Road Kill" is ignored.... nice of Torontonians to honor the unfortunate creature. I myself have buried many a small creature in my garden; neither my cat or dogs bother with them.in the city I have removed & bagged several unfortunate cats as to spare children the visuals.Boxed and waiting, it often takes a day for the city to collect them.
They just laughing about the death of the nature creature, why not? It's not important absolutely, like a garbage..
There was a public trash bin about six feet away... none of these a*s holes could have just gotten a plastic bag and manned up ?
Dead animals do not go in the trash bin, they have to be properly disposed of. Especially if they have rabies etc The racoon is not an empty Starbucks cup.
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Personally, I think that they dignified the poor creatures demise; death is a fact of life but for it to have been left lying on the sidewalk for such a long time was stripping it of its dignity. The flowers and candles were a tongue-in-cheek critique of Animal Services but also respectful to the animal.
Yeah whatever spirit it was done in, that was beautiful. The framed photo almost made me cry. I think we all would want to remembered that way. .
Load More Replies... Canada man....land of Bieber and compassion to literally everything and everyone.
Yup, that's us minus Bieber of course. We don't want him either.
Load More Replies... I'm sorry but I would have taken the poor thing after a few hours and buried it myself but I live up north where that might be more possible then downtown Toronto? But I would have taken the time to box it up so no children had too see or birds getting at it.
Never mind all these "It could be sick" people... If it is sick you prob don't wanna eat it for supper but to pick it up in a box and bury it is just fine. Nothing gonna happen to you and if you think it does you really need to educate yourself a bit better. Would have done the same thing, just pick it up and bury it. Let the bugs do the rest. Because in about a couple of days there is nothing left for any dog or other animal to dig up.. dumb city people have no clue.. sigh
Load More Replies... I would love this to be sincere and not a joke. As a buddhist I hope he is a Pure Land now. And for the people who joked about this, please think about that for a moment. He/she is just like us. Show some respect for a dead being, the next one could be any of you.
What are you referring to? The tweets? Because they showed immense respect for the raccoon! It was rather heart warming!
Load More Replies... I lke to think that this is a sincere act by people that 'knew' this racoon because there's also a photo of it very much alive although I know this could be a cynical act too. But I agree with Sherry I would have removed it after a few hours & buried it on my garden & probably planted something pretty over it. No doubt I will get negative remarks about disease now. But I live in the UK & there would be no concern about disease here. I've buried cats that I've found on the road & as I have cats of my own, l like to think someone honour my cats in the same way if it was found dead on the road. <3
I don't think that's a picture of this particular raccoon. It was a sweet, albeit tongue in cheek gesture. It's very kind what you do for the cats you find.
Load More Replies... Wow! Canada seems like a truly lovely country! Here in the US, if a Republican found it, Fox News would have shown it every 15 minutes accompanied by medical experts to terrorize the public into fearing an outbreak of disease and used it as an excuse to privatize the animal control department. Then, their commentators would have come up with 20 reasons for why this was all Obama's fault...
Wow. What an interesting thing to have brought people together like that. I find it very endearing and restores a tad bit more of my faith in humanity.
Sweet, silly. City should have done something much sooner. I would have done something myself if I'd been there, if only to remove her to the bushes or the side of the sidewalk.
Actually, I'm not sure that it is a good way to make some kind a statement over a dead body (who ever it is). People learned to care too little. Today you are making fun of this bad situation, lighting candles next to dead raccoon, leaving cards etc. tomorrow you will make selfies next to a person who past away on the street. I understand that this should be a statement to a miserable state service, but if you ask me you would made a better statement if you've just removed poor raccoon from the street by yourselves.
And the day after you unknowingly kill your family with a leaf blower.
Load More Replies... Good for you. I reported dead cat on the tram (streetcar) stop in one for the Polish cities. No response for four days... Average temperature was +25C / +77F. I always have a question where my taxes and ticket fee foes?
I dedicate this comment to this lovely raccoon. Seen as nothing but a meer "pest" most of his/her life, finally, get's to live in heaven. May you rest in peace, raccoon.
btw this comment sounds like a joke, but I swear it's not.
Load More Replies... why didn't anyone picked the poor thing up and throw it in the garbage?
Yes he is dead from massive immigration taking of the raccoons territory and there is no where left for them to live now. Toronto used to be one big ravine and it was their home..
Whilst I feel sorry for the poor raccoon and am equally shocked that it took so long for its removal off the sidewalk, I could not help but see the Dark Humorous side of it all.
Ha! Clearly you've never been to Canada. I'm typing this now from my frozen computer in my igloo, Eh?
Load More Replies... I fed rocky in 2019, he's still alive and well, enjoying all the snacks bellwood has to offer.
Load More Replies... Hahaha! Dignified death! Such a modern, western concept! There were times when we were eaten, beaten to death, tortured, shot, maimed, burned, exploded. It still happens y'know! A LOT!
I think the story is uplifting and shows how creative yet respectful people can be ...... good job!
So often "Road Kill" is ignored.... nice of Torontonians to honor the unfortunate creature. I myself have buried many a small creature in my garden; neither my cat or dogs bother with them.in the city I have removed & bagged several unfortunate cats as to spare children the visuals.Boxed and waiting, it often takes a day for the city to collect them.
They just laughing about the death of the nature creature, why not? It's not important absolutely, like a garbage..
There was a public trash bin about six feet away... none of these a*s holes could have just gotten a plastic bag and manned up ?
Dead animals do not go in the trash bin, they have to be properly disposed of. Especially if they have rabies etc The racoon is not an empty Starbucks cup.
Load More Replies... 
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