Last year, Nassau, Bahamas resident Rosie Kemp found a baby raccoon that had fallen out of a tree. The mother was nowhere to be found, so Kemp and her daughter Laura Young decided to adopt the little bandit and named her “Pumpkin.” Eventually, Pumpkin recovered from her injuries and moved in with Young and her husband.
“She instantly bonded with us and our two rescue dogs and follows me and our two dogs everywhere we go,” Young told The Dodo. “She now thinks she is a dog… she is able to play and be rough with them and she respects them when they have had enough.”
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Rosie Kemp found a baby raccoon with a broken leg in her yard
It was abandoned so Kemp and her daughter decided to adopt her
“She instantly bonded with us and our two rescue dogs”
“[she] follows me and our two dogs everywhere we go”
“She now thinks she is a dog”
“She is able to play and be rough with them and she respects them when they have had enough”
“Raising her…is a full-time job”
“They are so unbelievably intelligent”
“I would say they are even able to express emotions”
My family did the same thing when I was a girl. We found the poor little guy in the middle of the street after a huge down pour. Like you said they are really smart. He could get into anything and everything. Rocky lived with us from 2 weeks old to 3 years before decided to start his own family. I wish you and Pumpkin all the best! Thanks for sharing!
Such gorgeous photos.... Look at that tummy where she's sitting on the sofa!!
My parents raised 2 baby orphan raccoons (mama was hit by a car) when we were kids :)
You thought 'baby-proofing' a house was hard? Try Raccoon-proofing one! It's darn near impossible! (been there,done that) But let's just say the fun and love you get in return is well worth it! You're all lucky to have each other.
Although the idea of domesticating wild animals isn't a good one, in this case, it seems a good solution and the raccoon was lucky to find a family that accepts its naturally inquisitive behaviour. Most people should not try to adopt one of these cuties because it would end badly for the animal when it was rejected for being itself.
Cute, but the poor thing is grossly overweight. Loving your Raccoon so much you can't help abusing it by overfeeding is tantamount to animal cruelty. Please learn about the correct diet required to keep your orphan healthy. Raccoons are not dogs, even if they think they are sometimes..
Just keep in mind this is not at all how a wild racoon will act. Try to get even close to a baby or adult racoon and you'll have your hat fed to you.
Been there, done that. They can be a real handful when they mature. We eventually had to rehabilitate ours at a rescue centre.
Are there rabies vaccine for raccoon?! The raccoon of my childhood quickly learned to work the faucets and was crazy for water. I see you do have one picture of her sticking out of a toilet. I see you say the dogs can say "no", but can you? They are not famously biddable. This one can never go into the wild. They live for at least a decade. I think you should talk a little more about how much trouble it is.
P.S. Also notice you've taken the pulls off your kitchen drawers. That looks like a story too. Nice pictures though. :)
Load More Replies...wonderful pictures! how wonderful Pumpkin is that you found her--i'll bet she's a handful! thanks for sharing!
Thank you for saving one of the Great Spirit's beautiful creatures! You are wonderful people!!
Thank you for saving a life. Does your state allow having racoons as pets or did you have to get a special permit; does she go outside to do he business or is she cat box trained?
I have lots of questions that I hope the owner can answer? Do you need a special permit to raise raccoons? I have read it was illegal to raise a raccoon. Do you take it to a veterinarian? Is it potty trained? Has it ever bitten you? What do you feed it and how do you keep it from overeating? It looks a little chubby in the photos. How do you raccoon proof your house?
I have a baby c**n about the age of the pic of him peeking through the blinds.I've seen a few stories but the pictures accompanying this story are the most beautility. Great job.
What a wonderful story. So nice to see this little beast in a good loving home with compassionate people and well trained dogs (both rarities in this harsh world). Well done, you should be very proud of yourselves and your dogs :-)
I think that this friendship btween Dog & Raccoon is simply Awesome,you wish it would exist between Humans....!!!!
We had baby raccoons 2 different times, both boys. Boys WAAAY harder to raise than females, but we totally fell in love. They are exceptionally smart and curious, get into EVERYTHING, require CONSTANT watching. Can't cage them and go, they are smart but extremely needy. Don't go look for one.
Some of the cutest photos I've ever seen. And that's the least mangy-looking racoon I've ever seen as well.
Those are some truly amazing photos. What a sweet story- and the least mangy looking racoon I've ever seen.
What breed are your dogs! I know they are rescues but I'm sure they told you a little about them! :)
Friends rescued a baby racoon whose mother was killed by a dog. The racoon, also called Rocky (like below) loved the family dogs. Tragically, Rocky was killed by a neighbour dog as Rocky was not afrid of him.
What a wonderful story. Wouldn't it be great if all people could be the same way
the house's atmosphere seems kiet and full of love. those animals seems so happy, nice pictures, and it push me to want to have a racoon, but in France is not possible.
My guess is the racoon will one day realize she is not a dog and want a family of her own- and now that she is well and mended hopefully- when she is ready- they will let her go back to the life she was intended to have. I love racoons and they are fairly easy to tame (to a degree) but I've never kept one as a pet. I did have one who loved to hang around with us and be petted, but he slept outside.
so lovely! good people make life better. I wish them a lot of happiness!!
Beautiful. Every detail in this story (and the house in the background (:
Oh, I love the photo story. You can sees there's so much love and joy. You are doing a fantastic job, providing them with a happy family.
I raised an orphan raccoon also, she didn't even have her eyes open yet (her mother was killed when someone fell a tree they were in) . I only have one photo of her, but all these photos could have been her…they are so adorable. I'll always have a soft spot in my heart for raccoons.
Soooo adorable and funny! The pics are gorgeous! hahahhah :D <3
Does Pumpkin also get along with the 2nd dog? I don't see that dog pictured above...or are the dogs that idendical?
I had one as a pet in Santa Cruz, CA back in the early 80's when it was legal. Rachel was a sweet girl who loved the beach. Your pics are just fantastic!!
So sweet! I'm so glad some of us see these smart racoons as something other than pesty rodents.
You have amazing taste... I want you to adopt me so I can live in your gorgeous house. (And hang out with Pumpkin.)
We also adopted an orphaned raccoon at the beginning of summer. She plays with our dogs too! She even wags her tail like a dog! I never imagined how incredibly rewarding yet difficult it would be to keep up with such a smart, curious animal!
This is illegal and there are rehabiliation centres to care for injured and orphaned wildlife in the proper way. This is not how you rehabilitate wildlife this raccoon has been robbed of its natural life. Unfortunately they have put their family and domestic pets at risk of zoonotic diseases that can harm humans and other animals. For one research raccoon roundworm and its effects on humans and other animals. I am a licensed wildlife rehabilitator and gloves are always worn, linens cages, kennels, dishes are all designated for raccoons only to protect other species and our volunteers.
They are cute but can get vicious and unpredictable when older. It should have been released in the wild when it got well.
“I would say they are even able to express emotions” ? All animals are clearly able to express their emotions. Does this person think that other animals generally can't? Strange.
“I would say they are even able to express emotions” REALLY? Spectacular! An animal that is able to express emotions! What a world we live in. Someone kick this person out the door. How do you have dogs and say something as ignorant as this?
The only emotion I've ever seen a hamster express is contempt. You're a dumbass. Some animal actually don't have emotions in the conventional way, some do. Do you even science?
Load More Replies...My family did the same thing when I was a girl. We found the poor little guy in the middle of the street after a huge down pour. Like you said they are really smart. He could get into anything and everything. Rocky lived with us from 2 weeks old to 3 years before decided to start his own family. I wish you and Pumpkin all the best! Thanks for sharing!
Such gorgeous photos.... Look at that tummy where she's sitting on the sofa!!
My parents raised 2 baby orphan raccoons (mama was hit by a car) when we were kids :)
You thought 'baby-proofing' a house was hard? Try Raccoon-proofing one! It's darn near impossible! (been there,done that) But let's just say the fun and love you get in return is well worth it! You're all lucky to have each other.
Although the idea of domesticating wild animals isn't a good one, in this case, it seems a good solution and the raccoon was lucky to find a family that accepts its naturally inquisitive behaviour. Most people should not try to adopt one of these cuties because it would end badly for the animal when it was rejected for being itself.
Cute, but the poor thing is grossly overweight. Loving your Raccoon so much you can't help abusing it by overfeeding is tantamount to animal cruelty. Please learn about the correct diet required to keep your orphan healthy. Raccoons are not dogs, even if they think they are sometimes..
Just keep in mind this is not at all how a wild racoon will act. Try to get even close to a baby or adult racoon and you'll have your hat fed to you.
Been there, done that. They can be a real handful when they mature. We eventually had to rehabilitate ours at a rescue centre.
Are there rabies vaccine for raccoon?! The raccoon of my childhood quickly learned to work the faucets and was crazy for water. I see you do have one picture of her sticking out of a toilet. I see you say the dogs can say "no", but can you? They are not famously biddable. This one can never go into the wild. They live for at least a decade. I think you should talk a little more about how much trouble it is.
P.S. Also notice you've taken the pulls off your kitchen drawers. That looks like a story too. Nice pictures though. :)
Load More Replies...wonderful pictures! how wonderful Pumpkin is that you found her--i'll bet she's a handful! thanks for sharing!
Thank you for saving one of the Great Spirit's beautiful creatures! You are wonderful people!!
Thank you for saving a life. Does your state allow having racoons as pets or did you have to get a special permit; does she go outside to do he business or is she cat box trained?
I have lots of questions that I hope the owner can answer? Do you need a special permit to raise raccoons? I have read it was illegal to raise a raccoon. Do you take it to a veterinarian? Is it potty trained? Has it ever bitten you? What do you feed it and how do you keep it from overeating? It looks a little chubby in the photos. How do you raccoon proof your house?
I have a baby c**n about the age of the pic of him peeking through the blinds.I've seen a few stories but the pictures accompanying this story are the most beautility. Great job.
What a wonderful story. So nice to see this little beast in a good loving home with compassionate people and well trained dogs (both rarities in this harsh world). Well done, you should be very proud of yourselves and your dogs :-)
I think that this friendship btween Dog & Raccoon is simply Awesome,you wish it would exist between Humans....!!!!
We had baby raccoons 2 different times, both boys. Boys WAAAY harder to raise than females, but we totally fell in love. They are exceptionally smart and curious, get into EVERYTHING, require CONSTANT watching. Can't cage them and go, they are smart but extremely needy. Don't go look for one.
Some of the cutest photos I've ever seen. And that's the least mangy-looking racoon I've ever seen as well.
Those are some truly amazing photos. What a sweet story- and the least mangy looking racoon I've ever seen.
What breed are your dogs! I know they are rescues but I'm sure they told you a little about them! :)
Friends rescued a baby racoon whose mother was killed by a dog. The racoon, also called Rocky (like below) loved the family dogs. Tragically, Rocky was killed by a neighbour dog as Rocky was not afrid of him.
What a wonderful story. Wouldn't it be great if all people could be the same way
the house's atmosphere seems kiet and full of love. those animals seems so happy, nice pictures, and it push me to want to have a racoon, but in France is not possible.
My guess is the racoon will one day realize she is not a dog and want a family of her own- and now that she is well and mended hopefully- when she is ready- they will let her go back to the life she was intended to have. I love racoons and they are fairly easy to tame (to a degree) but I've never kept one as a pet. I did have one who loved to hang around with us and be petted, but he slept outside.
so lovely! good people make life better. I wish them a lot of happiness!!
Beautiful. Every detail in this story (and the house in the background (:
Oh, I love the photo story. You can sees there's so much love and joy. You are doing a fantastic job, providing them with a happy family.
I raised an orphan raccoon also, she didn't even have her eyes open yet (her mother was killed when someone fell a tree they were in) . I only have one photo of her, but all these photos could have been her…they are so adorable. I'll always have a soft spot in my heart for raccoons.
Soooo adorable and funny! The pics are gorgeous! hahahhah :D <3
Does Pumpkin also get along with the 2nd dog? I don't see that dog pictured above...or are the dogs that idendical?
I had one as a pet in Santa Cruz, CA back in the early 80's when it was legal. Rachel was a sweet girl who loved the beach. Your pics are just fantastic!!
So sweet! I'm so glad some of us see these smart racoons as something other than pesty rodents.
You have amazing taste... I want you to adopt me so I can live in your gorgeous house. (And hang out with Pumpkin.)
We also adopted an orphaned raccoon at the beginning of summer. She plays with our dogs too! She even wags her tail like a dog! I never imagined how incredibly rewarding yet difficult it would be to keep up with such a smart, curious animal!
This is illegal and there are rehabiliation centres to care for injured and orphaned wildlife in the proper way. This is not how you rehabilitate wildlife this raccoon has been robbed of its natural life. Unfortunately they have put their family and domestic pets at risk of zoonotic diseases that can harm humans and other animals. For one research raccoon roundworm and its effects on humans and other animals. I am a licensed wildlife rehabilitator and gloves are always worn, linens cages, kennels, dishes are all designated for raccoons only to protect other species and our volunteers.
They are cute but can get vicious and unpredictable when older. It should have been released in the wild when it got well.
“I would say they are even able to express emotions” ? All animals are clearly able to express their emotions. Does this person think that other animals generally can't? Strange.
“I would say they are even able to express emotions” REALLY? Spectacular! An animal that is able to express emotions! What a world we live in. Someone kick this person out the door. How do you have dogs and say something as ignorant as this?
The only emotion I've ever seen a hamster express is contempt. You're a dumbass. Some animal actually don't have emotions in the conventional way, some do. Do you even science?
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