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| Almost every family
has one. Usually a single, over-the-hill male,
his once slim body is showing the kind of wear
brought on by age and good living. What extra
weight he carries sits now around his belly and
hips, giving his walk a definite roll. His
shaggy coat is rumpled and stained with the
remnants of several meals. His teeth hurt, he's
a bit short-sighted and his hearing is not what
it once was. But, somehow, despite all this, he
has infinite appeal. Just by looking at him, you
know here is someone with experience, character
and great charm. Young ones gravitate towards
him and the females of the species vie with each
other to mother him and bring him the tastiest
tidbits. |
| So it is with
Riffraff. Trapped for continually eating food
put out for cats, Riffraff is a rascally 8 or
9-year old raccoon that was brought to Critter
Care early this fall. When he arrived, his ears
were torn; he was spitting blood, and he
definitely looked as if he were in need of
loving care and attention. He couldn't have
ended up in a more appropriate place! |
| A medical check found
little wrong with him, aside from a tooth that
needed to be removed, some arthritis in one of
his back legs and the fact that he badly needed
to be de-wormed. He accepted all these kind
ministrations with great dignity. His greatest
pleasure was being inside, in the warm, sleeping
half in - half out of his kennel. The expression
on his face, if someone was careless enough to
disturb his sleep by switching on the light, was
particularly priceless. |
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Now considerably chubbier, de-wormed, thoroughly
spoiled and with no more aching teeth, Riffraff
has been moved to an outside enclosure where he
is surrounded by adoring females. He is king of
all he surveys. As I stopped by to see him the
other day, he looked so unbelievably smug, I
told him I thought he'd orchestrated the whole
arrangement ... and, you know what? ... I swear
the old coot winked at me! Mavis Sutton,
President Critter Care Wildlife Society
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