baby raccoon

A couple of weeks ago I started feeding some raccoons who were visiting my yard. Amongst them was a mother and her three kits. A few nights ago I noticed that one of the kits had a trap on its left front leg. Other than that it appeared to be doing pretty well. I knew it could not, in the long run, survive with the trap on its leg, so I decided to catch it in a carrier and take it to a wildlife rehabber nearby. After a couple of long nights (early into the morning) I finally managed to catch the little one in a dog container. We spent an interesting night; I slept on the floor next to it to try to calm it when it got upset. They make very interesting vocalizations. I felt like a traitor taking it from its Mom, but wanted to help it.

We went to the rehabber early this morning. Her brave husband pulled the little one out of the container with heavy duty gloves and restrained it while his wife, the rehabber, took the “rat trap” off its leg. She immediately looked at me and said “It needs to be euthanized.” I became very upset and the next little while was not pretty. She ended up sedating it and amputating the leg, agreeing she would have the vet that oversees her license take a look at it later in the day to see if he felt it could be saved.

I learned at 6:18pm that they had euthanized it (that’s not when they did it, and I don’t know the time they did…message came in email), saying the infection was gangrenous, the bones in wrist had been shattered, and that it could not be saved.

I ask predominantly for prayers for the little raccoon, but also for understanding for all of us involved…I feel in great turmoil because of my actions. I thank you for the prayers. I also ask for and end to cruelty to animals.

• Details
  • Age: ?
  • Date: July 25, 2010
  • Place: Vashon, WA
  • Time: sometime in the afternoon
  • Cause: gangrenous infection from being caught in trap; euthanized
  • Day: 42
  • 49th day: September 12, 2010
  • Requested Practice: Prayers for all sentient beings Shitro Tonglen Vajrasattva
  • Submitted by: Leona Troese
  • email: leona period troese at providence period org

"Another thing you can do, whenever you think of someone who has died, is to say immediately a mantra..."
     - Sogyal Rinpoche

Please remember to dedicate the merit.