Dying in public is never easy for anyone – not even raccoons.
Yesterday, around 9am Jason Wager notified the city that there was a dead raccoon on Yonge St. The city responded in good time, and apparently Animal Services had been notified and would soon be on their way to pick up the poor little fellow.
Not so.
Over the next 12 hours the raccoon continued to lay on the street. And Torontonians decided something needed to be done. Soon a note, then a flower, and finally a framed picture were all placed beside the dead animal.
Then, what else, a hashtag: #DeadRaccoonTO Soon candles and a donation box followed. It seemed Toronto finally had something to rally behind. But then Animal Services finally showed up and took the raccoon away. Presumably, tears were shed.
Raccoon update: he’s still here. People have set up a memorial, some leaving farewell messages.
A photo posted by Emily Taylor (@emilyjs5) on
Candlelight vigil now being held for #DeadRaccoonTO. Picture courtesy of @gavingraham. pic.twitter.com/HrpApfbBfJ
— Norm Kelly (@norm) July 10, 2015
Don’t quite know what to say about this sidewalk discovery except that it really brought ppl together. #deadraccoonto pic.twitter.com/BJ7efipLvq
— Shauna Pollock (@misspollock) July 9, 2015
Leaving some messages for #DeadRaccoonTO pic.twitter.com/xirnynU4qa
— Kris Pangilinan (@KrisReports) July 10, 2015
Someone has added a donation box beside the dead raccoon. #DeadRaccoonTO pic.twitter.com/fXHzcf9LJu
— Kris Pangilinan (@KrisReports) July 10, 2015
The city of Toronto worker is now preparing to remove the raccoon. #DeadRaccoonTO pic.twitter.com/DASkviOkiE
— Kris Pangilinan (@KrisReports) July 10, 2015
It’s what he would have wanted, after all.
Hopefully he’s finally happy in that big trash can in the sky. RIP #DeadRaccoonTO, you really showed how much this city can come together when the words HOV are not involved.
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