Who would have ever thought that I would be the owner of a raccoon ... or did the young 'coon choose me??

Yes, I have a raccoon for a pet.  Found him about a year ago, lying by a tree:  half-dead, near-lifeless, frost encrusting his fur.  Thought for sure he was a goner; felt sorry for him, so I brought him in, where I warmed up a bottle of milk, and fed it to him.  Poor little thing was so weak he could hardly suck.

When he came to life, though, watch out!  It was like having a mini hurricane in the house!   Durn little thing took off running, or he spent his time exploring every nook and cranny:  almost like having a human baby in the house!

My dad was furious when he saw the 'coon.  "Don't you know it's a wild animal?" he raged.  "He could have rabies,  you know!"

He was right.  So I was prepared to leave him outside and let him go back to being a raccoon, to live in nature, in familiar surroundings.  A house was no place for a young raccoon; there was no telling what chaos this little guy could bring upon our family or our house.

The raccoon, however, had other ideas.  He wanted to stay with me.  I don't know if he had been someone else's pet, but for a wild animal, he seemed rather tame once he had gotten to know me.  He would come to me when I called him (named him "Rakkity"; seemed like the perfect name for him), and he was quite clean and fastidious -- that was, when he wasn't causing mischief or flinging paper everywhere or kocking things over as he went around the house.  More than once we'd be awakened by pots and pans falling to the floor or screams of surprise as the raccoon ran over people's faces.

As a result, we have gained a pet.  A rather unusual pet, but a pet, just the same.  I read up on all I could about raising 'coons and what they liked to eat; I've since gotten his favorite foods and made sure that he had his shots and was free of rabies (he was, suprrisingly enough; vet pronounced him healthy).  He follows me everywhere like a dog; he loves to ride on my bike, sitting on my shoulders, or helping me with the dishes; he also loves "helping" me with my homework or to "watch" television with me.  He and I are always together, it seems.  A boy and his 'coon.

We are the best of friends.

I am happy to say that "Rakkity" has calmed down, but I have to find plenty to keep him occupied; otherwise, he'd be back to his old tricks of running all over people's faces or knocking things over.  Or he'd chew on things other than food:  sometimes if he feels the need, he will gnaw on my ankles, which hurts.  Or on unsuspecting fingers; more than once, I've gotten my finger bitten by "Rakkity" in his mischief.  I have had to teach him proper behavior.  For a raccoon, he is very smart; I've never met a character like him!

Whenever we go anywhere he is bound to start a conversation; it isn't every day when people see a raccoon as a pet.  As I said earlier, I'd let him go back to his natural home, but he likes me too much; he is too tame, and he'd run the risk of being eaten by animals or birds of prey, and he had to have been someoene else's pet; otherwise, he'd be too wild in temperament. 

I know a boy at my school who has a skunk as a pet; he named it "Syn".  Why can't I have a 'coon?  "Rakkity" is the perfect pet; and I am so glad he's mine!