Wait ’til you see him now 😍💕
The initial sighting was at Ocean Springs, Mississippi’s downtown area. In January, a strange tiny animal was seen wandering about behind a pet store, completely naked, his fur matted beyond recognition.
Wild At Heart Rescue’s Robin Seals and Judy Roe knew he needed help, but every time they investigated an area where he’d been seen, the animal had vanished.
They realized time was running out after following the odd animal around the neighborhood for a month and a half. Because traps had failed, they decided to put up a feeding station and a camera instead.
They sat in front of the trail camera for hours, memorizing the animal’s routines until they were eventually allowed to approach him.
“It was the biggest adrenaline surge I’d ever felt from relief when I threw the net over him,” Roe told The Dodo. “We were becoming frantic because by the time I eventually placed the net over him, we knew he wouldn’t be here in a few of days – he was that terrible.”
When they returned home with the animal, they discovered he had one of the worst cases of sarcoptic mange they’d ever seen.
Roe described him as “living inside a shell of his own flesh.” “It was probably 2 inches thick across his entire body, including his hands and feet,” says the narrator.
“The will to survive in this animal was astounding,” Roe said, “because I can promise 99 percent of people would give up.” “He’s given us a valuable lesson about perseverance.”
The animal was in discomfort and itching, but with Roe and Seals’ treatment, he started to feel better.
“We followed the practice of soaking him in warm, soapy water and brushing him to get the scales off,” Roe explained. “And we discovered a lovely little raccoon beneath there,” says the narrator.
The senior raccoon was given the moniker Hobo, and after weeks of therapy, he began to come back to life.
Hobo is currently housed in an outdoor enclosure complete with a slide, a den, two swimming pools, and climbing trees. He allows his caregivers feed and clean up after him, and he enjoys lounging on top of his slide and nighttime swimming in his pools.
“He’s climbing, running, and playing again,” Roe added. “He’s got a little routine going on, and I think he’s happy right now.”
Hobo’s hair is starting to regrow, and he’s becoming stronger with each passing day. Thanks to his saviors, the senior raccoon is on the road to recovery and will soon be released back into his domain. But, for now, he’s OK with being indulged.
Seals told The Dodo, “He’s lived a long life, but the last year of it has been horrible.” “Now everything is different – he’s a joyful kid.” He’s relaxed and satisfied. He’s incredible, he truly is.”