MovieChat Forums > The Elephant in the Living Room (2010) Discussion > We had a raccoon when I was little.

We had a raccoon when I was little.

posted 11 years ago by cookiela2001
4 replies | jump to latest

My father the-former-farmboy found her wounded by the side of the road and nursed her back to health. She would cuddle with my mom or dad, and play with the basset hounds (!) Sometimes she would come on car ride.

Eventually she moved to a tree outside the kitchen window, and would startle my mom by pounding on the glass for dog food.

There were 3 small children in the house, and my mother now say, "I must have been insane."

This was all my dad's doing. Over the years he also had a spider monkey, and a snake. In the 1950's and 60's, if your husband brought home a raccoon, you tied on your little apron and fed it.

[–] gottb4 11 years ago

I wouldn't put that in the same category as what these people in this documentary are doing. If your dad checked the raccon out for rabies, I don't see too much harm. It also sounds like your dad let it out into the wild. I've known a couple of people who had situations similar to yours. They all said that they were great when they were small but got a little more difficult when they grew up. I feel a bit guilty because I turned a raccoon into roadkill a few days ago. Not a damn thing I could have done, but it is a little sad.

The monkey is a whole other issue entirely.

My dad almost brought home a bobcat. His friend was a law enforcement dude who rescued them from something or another. He told my mother and she freaked out and was like "that isn't smart. it'll eat our puppies." that was the last we ever heard about that.

The older I get, the more problems I have with even zoos. We have two dogs now. I don't feel bad about having them though. One is literally helpless. He wouldn't last a day. When we take him for walks, we have to keep an eye out for birds of prey.

It's late and I'm rambling. But I guess the real issue for me is are the interests of the animals really being pursued. I know a few people who find having dogs immoral. I don't agree. But I've seen some of the inbreeding to get certain traits. The English bulldog is the greatest example. It can't even reproduce by itself. They're great animals, but I don't like how they've been changed.

[–] GSmith9072 11 years ago

If your dad checked the raccon out for rabies, I don't see too much harm.

Explain to me how this is done. The world needs to know.

BUGS

[–] lunarvision 11 years ago

I also knew a guy with a pet raccoon. 'Tough old man at the beach, and the racoon was relatively friendly - smart little creature too!

That said, a (native) raccoon /=/ an exotic African lion. Not even in the same ballpark.

[–] otterprods 11 years ago

Assuming you grew up in North America, a raccoon would not really be an 'exotic pet' so much as a 'bad idea pet'. Sounds like it worked out ok, though, which is good.

Otterprods, to keep those aquatic Mustelidae in line.