Woman with chronic illness finds hope, happiness with a pet raccoon
Some trash pandas aren't so trashy after all.
Kasey Valentine resides in Stevenage, England, with an adorable raccoon named Cody Rocket. It's an odd pet, sure, but it's one that she has found helps her greatly through life.
Valentine suffers from multiple chronic illnesses including Myalgic Encephalomyelitis, otherwise known as chronic fatigue, and Ehlers Danlos Syndrome, which is a rare connective tissue disorder. Her illnesses leave her in constant pain and her joints dislocate often.
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"Both illnesses have left me quite isolated and anxious about going outside and meeting new people," she told Mashable. "I don’t have many close friends these days because of this, as not many people understand how it feels."
Adopting Cody has completely turned Valentine's life around. His affection has made Valentine a happier person and gives her great enjoyment in difficult times relating to her health.
"I never really left the house before and now I make sure I do every single day," she said. "My boyfriend and I take Cody out together for a walk every day and if I am feeling well enough we go to visit our favorite shops together, which is always fun as people can never believe that they are seeing a raccoon out shopping."
"Cody's personality is inquisitive, curious and affectionate," Valentine explained. "He is very intelligent too. He is a lot more outgoing than me, which is great because it helps me learn to be more confident about life and meeting new people. He has really changed my life around and I now have a reason to keep pushing forward every day."
However, raccoons are not easy to care for.
"They require a lot of time and attention and they are not like a cat or dog," she said. "Naturally, they are destructive creatures and Cody enjoys peeling off wallpaper. He never gets left on his own and he is kept out of mischief where possible. It's like having an extremely hyper toddler at times, but it keeps me on my toes and I really need that."
While raccoons are currently legal in the UK, they are not recommended pets. According to Valentine, there is a law that may come into effect in the EU called the Invasive Animal Species Law. Essentially, it would ban raccoons from being kept both in homes and in zoos.
"Upon hearing about this law, I did some research and contacted my local MP with a heartfelt letter," Valentine explained. "I now have written confirmation that I can keep Cody even if this law comes into place. I do not think they should be banned as animals, but I do think there should be some kind of procedures in place to stop people buying them when they are not knowledgeable."
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[h/t BuzzFeed]
Topics Animals
