A raccoon owner claims her pets are constantly being 'fat shamed' as she treats them to Wotsits, pizza and even McDonald's - but she insists their cuddly size is 'all fluff'. Dawn Ford said she began posting about her two raccoons Lily and Salem after adopting them when they were just four weeks old, but only when they grew did her clips soar in popularity.
The self-proclaimed 'raccoon mom' said they're fed 'just like normal pets', on a high-protein dog food diet along with healthy foods but they're allowed cookies, pizza, and McDonald's fries as treats. The 47-year-old animal lover claims her 'chunky' pets are perfectly healthy, with Lily weighing 24lbs and Salem 25lbs, yet pictured next to her tiny 5ft 2in frame, they appear larger than life.
Dawn, whose raccoons are 'spoilt rotten', said she's even been accused of animal abuse and that those that brand them overweight are misguided as their round physique is 'all fluff'.
She's hoping to end the stigma that raccoons are vicious animals and instead reveal that with proper care, and frequent check-ups at the vets, they're just as safe as her three dogs.
Adorable videos captured by Dawn show her pets gorging on sweet corn and grapes as well as their calorific treats of McDonald's fries, chicken nuggets, cheese puffs and even lollies.
Dawn, of Indiana, US, said: "Lily's favourite treat is BBQ chips and Salem's favourite is chicken nuggets.
"It isn't all the time, if I give them a cookie or pizza, it'll just be because I'm having pizza for lunch, same if it was my dogs. On a normal basis, they eat a regular, high-protein dog food diet.
"People think they're fat but they're not, it's hair, it's all fluff.
"They also don't understand that I'm small, I'm only 5'2 and weigh 110lbs. I'm tiny. So when I hold Lily, she looks bigger than she actually is.
"I don't even mind people calling them 'fat', chunky or adorably fat, but they aren't unhealthy or abused.
"When I blew up, my followers went crazy. It was really nice at first but the hate was just incredible. It makes you doubt yourself, I know better but it's hurtful.
"I've called my vet and said 'all these people are saying that they're too big or unhealthy, are they?' and they assured me 'no, they're fine'. But you start to doubt yourself a little bit.
"I'm not mistreating them, I love them and they are spoilt rotten."
Dawn bought her raccoons back in May 2021 when they were just four weeks old and bottle fed them.
She claims that hers aren't even the largest and that her vet sees some that weigh more than 40lbs.
Dawn said: "Lily is sweet and docile, she's the one I'm always holding in videos. She's so gentle.
"Salem is very loving. He likes to lay on your lap. He lays with me on the couch and always wants to be petted. He's more playful.
"I give them cranberries, peanuts and cashews as supplements for more protein for their muscles. Both of them love corn on the cob, they find it so fun.
"They need fruits and vegetables, but they want a cookie now and again. We do too.
"To be completely honest, I don't even think they eat anymore than my dogs do. Most dogs aren't happy if they never get pizza crusts or bones, the raccoons are the same.
"It's just how you feed a normal pet. The same as I give my dogs pizza crusts, I give them pizza too. It isn't bad or unhealthy."
Despite some of the hateful comments, Dawn hopes that sharing Lily and Salem online will show people what loving pets raccoons can be.
She claims they've even helped a little girl who was attacked by a raccoon last year overcome her fear.
Adamant that her 'quirky' pets are no different to owning a cat or a dog, the 47-year-old also believes all animals and pets deserve proper care, regardless of if they are the 'norm' or not.
So her 'spoilt rotten' raccoons have plenty of toys inside their enclosure, have hammocks to sleep in and even suckle on cat balls as 'dummies'.
Due to their long fur, she also bathes them once a week and litter trained them like cats.
Dawn said: "Friends and family love them. Everyone adores them.
"I spoke with a girl who had been attacked by a raccoon. We Facetimed and she got to see Lily and Salem and interact with them.
"By the end of the conversation, she was begging her mum for a pet raccoon. There is so much misinformation about raccoons out there. It is just a lack of knowledge for these people.
"Taking care of them is the biggest thing. You need a whole lot of time to look after a raccoon. They need toys and attention as they get bored really easily.
"They love dog ropes, cat balls and stuffed animals. Like a dog, they take all the stuffing out of stuffed animals.
"Truly the number one comment I get is 'I want one'.
"I always say, make sure you do a lot of research for what these pets need as it's a lot.
"We put so much care into them. No one should ever go into owning a pet raccoon or honestly any pet, I don't care what the pet is, without proper research and care."
The raccoon owner regularly shares videos of her unconventional pets on TikTok with her cute clips amassing thousands of likes and comments.
One critical comment read: "Animal mistreatment. Overweight and unhealthy."
Another said: "That is so sad… poor thing needs a diet…"
A third wrote: "Obese pets aren't cute."
A more positive commenter said: "Cuteness overload!!"
Another remarked: "If a raccoon doesn't look chunky, there is probably something wrong with it."
A third said: "The raccoon is living the dream"
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