People In Toronto Made Memorial For Dead Raccoon After City Forgot To Pick It Up For 12 Hrs
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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. .
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.
PLEASE take him back!
We are NOT the land of Bieber!! You may recall he obtained his fame in the States right ....
Don't you put that evil on me Ricky Bobby!
1.they arent the land of beiber. the USA gave him his fame and are more responsible for his influence and behaviour. 2. more of the world should be as loving, kind, friendly and compassionate as Canada.
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
We don't need to "protect" children from the sight of death.
Where I live it is illegal to transport a wild raccoon, dead or alive, because of possible rabies.
Why shouldn't children see a dead animal?
Love your Maltese Sherry!
shush.
Most cases of rabies occur in wild animals — mainly skunks, raccoons, bats, coyotes, and foxes. Although I understand the argument about not leaving it out, and just burying it yourself; I am afraid it could have diseases. I would hate for it to get buried and then dug up by a dog or something, and other animals get sick. I had an issue with something under my house last year. The guy who came out said that if it was a possum they could set it free again, but if it is a raccoon they would have to euthanize it ( even if it was healthy) :( Apparently NC has issues with diseased raccoons. It makes me sad they would have such disregard for a life.. even if it is a bit of a pest.
This comment is hidden. Click here to view.
Are you absolutely out of your mind? The animal could be diseased, there's a reason why they are professionals who do this.
Are you out of your mind? At the greenery I constantly picked up dead birds while everybody was screaming ´nooo they might be diseased´. Uhm. No, we should wait and let it rot away so maggots will crawl out of it. THAT´s healthy.
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. .
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.
PLEASE take him back!
We are NOT the land of Bieber!! You may recall he obtained his fame in the States right ....
Don't you put that evil on me Ricky Bobby!
1.they arent the land of beiber. the USA gave him his fame and are more responsible for his influence and behaviour. 2. more of the world should be as loving, kind, friendly and compassionate as Canada.
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
We don't need to "protect" children from the sight of death.
Where I live it is illegal to transport a wild raccoon, dead or alive, because of possible rabies.
Why shouldn't children see a dead animal?
Love your Maltese Sherry!
shush.
Most cases of rabies occur in wild animals — mainly skunks, raccoons, bats, coyotes, and foxes. Although I understand the argument about not leaving it out, and just burying it yourself; I am afraid it could have diseases. I would hate for it to get buried and then dug up by a dog or something, and other animals get sick. I had an issue with something under my house last year. The guy who came out said that if it was a possum they could set it free again, but if it is a raccoon they would have to euthanize it ( even if it was healthy) :( Apparently NC has issues with diseased raccoons. It makes me sad they would have such disregard for a life.. even if it is a bit of a pest.
This comment is hidden. Click here to view.
Are you absolutely out of your mind? The animal could be diseased, there's a reason why they are professionals who do this.
Are you out of your mind? At the greenery I constantly picked up dead birds while everybody was screaming ´nooo they might be diseased´. Uhm. No, we should wait and let it rot away so maggots will crawl out of it. THAT´s healthy.