Did I do the right thing? - UPDATE... it's gone!

UPDATE... here's my update... as of last night, the raccoon is gone. I assume the neighbors took care of it because nobody else would. So we can now go outside again without the smell of death attacking us!


There is a very dead raccoon on my neighbor's property. It's in their backyard in an area that is filled with bushes. The dead raccoon is butting right up against our fence to the point where you can see the fur from the tail coming under the fence.

The smell is HORRIBLE! We can't open our windows to our house because the smell is so bad. We can't stay outside longer than running to the car because the smell is so bad. I'm concerned about other animals eating the body and the possibility of rabies.

I'm not sure if I did the right thing...

Yesterday when I noticed the dead raccoon was there, I went to the neighbor's house (we really don't know them at all) and told a guy who rents part of the house about the raccoon. I hoped that he was going to tell the owners of the house.

Well, I am way too impatient when it comes to things like this because I'm concerned about having my DS outside. So I just called the police department who will contact animal control.

Do you think I am wrong for not waiting to see what the neighbor's were going to do about it? It's not my property... but I feel it is a health risk and want it taken care of as soon as possible.

Ugh.... I hope animal control comes soon and that the neighbors don't get upset when they go walking into their backyard.

Message edited 8/21/2010 10:13:20 AM.

Re: Did I do the right thing?

hell no. I would have done the same thing-maybe even skipping telling them. Gross. gross gross

Re: Did I do the right thing?

I wouldn't have called the police, I would have just looked up the number to animal control and contacted them myself

if that wasn't an option I would have called my local precient and asked who I should be contacting

(I hope you didn't call 911 and tie up the lines for this)

And if it was still their the next day, I would have knocked on the door again,and asked them if I may go in their backyard I'd like to remove the racoon. take a shovel and a garbage back and pick it up

while its not your property, your the only one that it is bothering, and calling the police for a dead animal is Insane if you ask me!

Re: Did I do the right thing?

Re: Did I do the right thing?

I probablt would have skipped calling the police and just call animal control. If the smell is like you say then I would want it gone asap.

Re: Did I do the right thing?

Message edited 8/20/2010 11:42:27 AM.

Re: Did I do the right thing?

Sadly, if animal control won't come, the next step would be to wear a mask, buy long rubber gloves, pick up the dead animal, put it in a black garbage bag and put it out with the trash when its collected.

We had to do that with a dead squirrel!

Re: Did I do the right thing?

Re: Did I do the right thing?

I would have just taken care of it myself...

eta: not that you didn't do the right thing, I don't think there is a "wrong" thing in this situation.

Message edited 8/20/2010 12:00:26 PM.

Re: Did I do the right thing?

Sorry you have to now deal with this and the smell. I hope the neighbor at least helps I am sure they can smell it too.

Re: Did I do the right thing?

Posted by jerseypanda

Posted by HeatherRose

I wouldn't have called the police, I would have just looked up the number to animal control and contacted them myself

if that wasn't an option I would have called my local precient and asked who I should be contacting

(I hope you didn't call 911 and tie up the lines for this)

And if it was still their the next day, I would have knocked on the door again,and asked them if I may go in their backyard I'd like to remove the racoon. take a shovel and a garbage back and pick it up

while its not your property, your the only one that it is bothering, and calling the police for a dead animal is Insane if you ask me!

Well I'm not insane that I know of... I did not call 911 for a dead raccoon... you're making some assumptions by my single comment about calling the police.

I could not locate the number for animal control. The number that I found was no longer in service. After about 20 minutes of internet searching for the right number, I called my local police department's non emergency line and they actually called it in to the correct animal control department since they had all the information.

Unfortunately, the animal control department just called me back and told me that they are only responsible for removing dead animals that are over 50 pounds from private property.

Do you think they would believe me if I tell them it's a REALLY BIG dead raccoon????????

Back to the drawing board.

Re: Did I do the right thing?

Posted by HeatherRose

Posted by jerseypanda

Posted by HeatherRose

I wouldn't have called the police, I would have just looked up the number to animal control and contacted them myself

if that wasn't an option I would have called my local precient and asked who I should be contacting

(I hope you didn't call 911 and tie up the lines for this)

And if it was still their the next day, I would have knocked on the door again,and asked them if I may go in their backyard I'd like to remove the racoon. take a shovel and a garbage back and pick it up

while its not your property, your the only one that it is bothering, and calling the police for a dead animal is Insane if you ask me!

Well I'm not insane that I know of... I did not call 911 for a dead raccoon... you're making some assumptions by my single comment about calling the police.

I could not locate the number for animal control. The number that I found was no longer in service. After about 20 minutes of internet searching for the right number, I called my local police department's non emergency line and they actually called it in to the correct animal control department since they had all the information.

Unfortunately, the animal control department just called me back and told me that they are only responsible for removing dead animals that are over 50 pounds from private property.

Do you think they would believe me if I tell them it's a REALLY BIG dead raccoon????????

Back to the drawing board.

I actually said calling the police for a dead animal is Insane, not "you"

And you asked the boards if you did the right thing, did you expect EVERYONE to say of course you did???

Clearly you thought you did because you felt the need to defend yourself to a post that implied you didn't, so why even ask, it was a done deal you already you called

Re: Did I do the right thing?

I dont know if I would be comfortable going on someone elses property for anything unless I got the ok from the home owner.
then again since they lack common courtesy you might be doing them a favor and they may be glad you did it for them.
but they may be crazy. are they?

Re: Did I do the right thing?

You absolutely did the right thing, I would have called the police department as well. They deal with quality of life issues all the time, not just emergencies.

What's INSANE is that somebody could leave a rotting animal in their yard and you can't do anything about it!

Re: Did I do the right thing?

I would have done the same thing..esp with young children...I'm sorry I would have done the same exact thing!

Re: Did I do the right thing?

I think you did the right thing. I would have called the police too since i doubt it would have occured to me that animal control would handle this (although now we know they don't).

Have your DH go over there and talk to them. It is their responsibility to remove the dead animal. It is unsanitary, dangerous (rabies, other animals) and just plain disgusting.

But, if they refuse to do it, and your DH can stomach doing it himself, then I guess he should do it.

Re: Did I do the right thing?

Can the town do anything about this?

Re: Did I do the right thing?

I dont think you did the wrong thing. Not at all.

Re: Did I do the right thing?