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.
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
Critter Care Wildlife Society
