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.
@311Toronto There’s a dead raccoon on the sidewalk outside 819 Yonge (at the SE corner of Church).
— Jason Wagar (@jasonwagar) July 9, 2015
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.
Please have staff pick up this raccoon at 819 Yonge St, @311Toronto. H/T @jasonwagar. #TOpoli pic.twitter.com/iPSlgRfMwr
— Norm Kelly (@norm) July 9, 2015
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.
The whole #DeadRaccoonTO thing is disgusting. Haven't been so embarrassed to say I'm from #Toronto in a long time.
— A Ghost To Most (@aghosttomost) July 10, 2015
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?
