A raccoon that was found unconscious inside a liquor store after allegedly drinking alcohol has helped raise US$250,000 (approximately RM1.1 million) for an animal shelter in Virginia, United States.
The animal’s unusual story has regained attention after a fundraising campaign known as Trashed Panda successfully collected donations for the Hanover County Animal Protection and Shelter.
Hanover County Animal Protection chief Jeffrey Parker said the funds would cover half the cost of purchasing body cameras for animal control officers.
Part of the donations will also go towards improving animal accommodation facilities, providing toys, setting up temperature-controlled food storage and establishing a food bank for the community and their pets.
Parker said the shelter had been considering purchasing body cameras for some time but could not proceed with the plan until the raccoon’s incident triggered an outpouring of public support.
“This raccoon helped speed things up a little,” he said.
He explained that the cameras would improve officers’ safety, ensure greater transparency during operations and provide evidence in investigations involving animal cruelty.
The incident happened on Black Friday last year when a store employee discovered the raccoon lying face down on the floor after it allegedly went on a drinking spree inside the premises.
According to the Hanover County Animal Protection and Shelter, the animal left behind quite a mess, including 14 broken liquor bottles, scattered merchandise shelves and several overturned boxes.
The damage caused by the broken liquor bottles was estimated at US$250 (approximately RM1,100).
No other damage was reported, and the store resumed operations after the clean-up was completed.
A photograph of the raccoon lying near a rubbish bin and toilet subsequently went viral on social media, prompting amused reactions from internet users.
Parker declined to reveal the animal’s current location but expressed hope that it was enjoying a good life and had become a little more “sober” since the incident.
