This week, a homeowner in Belchertown, Massachusetts, awoke to find a wild baby curled up all alone on his doorstep — a little raccoon who appeared in dire need of a helping hand.
And thankfully, he got one.
The homeowner was soon on the phone with Belchertown Animal Control Officer Sarah Byrnes.
“The little baby was cold and wet from the rain storm we had [the night before],” Byrnes told The Dodo. “As soon as I saw him, my heart broke. He was drenched and looked so scared. He was definitely too young to be on his own.”
Byrnes filmed as she approached the baby raccoon, doing her best to assure him that everything would be OK.
https://volume.thedodo.com/embed/1f02fbee7?autoplay=true&loop=true&placement=article&player_type=chorus&tracking=article:lede&privacy_consent=allBelchertown Animal Control
After wrapping the wet raccoon in a towel and placing him inside a crate, Byrnes proceeded to check if his mother was nearby — but to no avail.
“I called the Leyden Center for Wildlife Rehabilitation for advice,” Byrnes said. “[Founder Amelie Dricut-Ziter] advised me to bring the baby to her.”
Fortunately, despite being lost, wet and hypothermic, the little raccoon appeared to be in otherwise good shape. He’s currently in quarantine, where Dricut-Ziter continues to monitor his health.
“He’s doing fine,” Dricut-Ziter told The Dodo. “He’s eating, drinking and being a raccoon.”
Estimated to be just over 2 months old, the raccoon is still too young to fend for himself in the wild. So, Dricut-Ziter plans to care for him until he’s able to be released.
When the time is right, the raccoon will join the nearly two dozen other baby raccoons being cared for at the Leyden Center for Wildlife Rehabilitation ahead of their eventual reintegration back into the wild.
To help this raccoon and the other animals under the care of the Leyden Center for Wildlife Rehabilitation, consider making a donation via the organization’s Amazon Wishlist.
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“He wanted his snuggles.”
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Mama Dog Desperately Tries To Reach Crying Puppy In The Next Shelter Kennel
She was desperate to get to him.
By Ashley Ortiz
When she first arrived at the Town of Hempstead Animal Shelter (TOHAS), rescue dog Paris mostly kept to herself. She had her own kennel, a standard part of the intake process, but even when other dogs passed by her, the downtrodden girl wouldn’t budge — until a crying puppy became her next-door neighbor.
Days after rescuing Paris, TOHAS took in six pit bull puppies rescued from an abusive home. Staff members placed one of the pups, Bruce Willis, in the kennel next to Paris’, and when he started screaming for his littermates, Paris immediately sprang into action.
It’s unclear exactly what Paris’ life was like before becoming a TOHAS resident, but one thing’s for sure: She’d had puppies before, and her mothering instincts never disappeared.
As soon as the puppy started crying, Paris ran to the kennel door and pressed her face against the opening, trying to pry her way to the wailing baby next to her. She could hardly see the puppy, even with her face smooshed against the bars, but his cries and scent told her everything she needed to know.
And, even though they’d never met, Bruce Willis seemed to feel instinctively comforted by Paris’ presence.
“You can even see the puppy (Bruce Willis) lean up against the kennel to be with her!” TOHAS wrote on Instagram.
You can watch that moment here:
A post shared by Never Losing Hope For TOHAS Shelter Dogs! (@neverlosinghope4tohas)
The staff’s hearts broke as they watched the mama dog desperately try to reach a helpless baby. They hadn’t yet tested Paris’ behavior with other dogs, but they decided to let her meet Bruce Willis anyway, and the two hit it off instantly.
“When we finally brought them together, THEY WERE SO HAPPY!” TOHAS wrote.
Paris and Bruce Willis became best friends and enjoyed playing together each day until both pups went off to foster homes. Sadly, Paris returned to the shelter less than two weeks later.
“[While] she is great overnight and absolutely loves human interaction … [she] does seem to pace around the house, and [her foster mom] has said, ‘It almost seems like, because she has been a [mama], she looks for her babies,’” TOHAS’ Alex Charalambous told The Dodo.
Paris’ motherly instincts are still as strong as ever, but luckily, she has many young pups at the shelter to dote on. One of Bruce Willis’ littermates, Brad Pitt, is still at the shelter, too — and his bond with Paris is just as strong as his brother’s.
The folks at TOHAS hope to see Paris in her forever home soon, one in which she will receive the structure and TLC she needs to thrive. Until then, they’ll keep loving their sweet mama dog and reminding the world how amazing she is.
“If you’re looking for a loving, playful dog who will bring joy and warmth to your home, Paris might be your perfect match!” TOHAS wrote.
To inquire about fostering or adopting Paris, you can contact the Town of Hempstead Animal Shelter via email at adoption@hempsteadny.gov or call (516) 785-5220.
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“[H]e just sat there, scared and cold” 😰
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