WASHINGTON — The city of Toronto, Canada is mourning the loss of a raccoon. No, really, they are.
A raccoon was found dead on a Toronto sidewalk around 9 a.m. Thursday. Passerby Jason Wagar tweeted at the city’s official account informing them of the poor animal, according to BuzzFeed.
https://twitter.com/jasonwagar/status/619130177285550080
The 311 Toronto account responded and said Animal Services had been notified. Yet the raccoon was still lying there a few hours later.
As more and more pedestrians came across the dead raccoon, they expressed their deepest sympathy and condolences. People placed notes, roses and even a portrait of a raccoon right near the animal.
Finally, almost six hours later, the City Councillor Norm Kelly urged his staff to pick the raccoon up.
https://twitter.com/norm/status/619223488361009152
The raccoon then went viral after someone wrote the hashtag #DeadRaccoonTo next to it.
The hashtag elicited ambivalent reactions. Some people thought it was a funny gesture, while others found it disturbing.
https://twitter.com/brotherpetekic/status/619314560944766977
Meanwhile, the raccoon was still lying in the same spot by nighttime, so someone decided to host a candlelight vigil.
The dead raccoon was finally removed around 11 p.m.
Not your average roadkill story, huh?