A small raccoon is alive and a man is facing an animal cruelty charge after Toronto police found the baby animal trapped and drowing in a trash can in the backyard of a York-area home early Thursday morning.
Around 1 a.m. a resident in the Dufferin Street and Eglinton Avenue area heard crying noises from the backyard and called police, a release from the Toronto Wildlife Centre said.
When police arrived they found a baby raccoon in a trap inside a garbage can filled with water. There were rocks holding the trap down. Luckily, the Toronto Wildlife Centre said, there was a bit of air at the top of the can and the baby was floating near the top.
Officers rescued the animal and took it to the Toronto Wildlife Centre where medical staff are treating it.
Toronto police say the raccoon is alive and doing well.
67-year-old Luigi Derose is charged with causing unnecessary suffering to animals.
The Toronto Wildlife Centre release said "Some people love raccoons and some people don’t, but this kind of action is always unacceptable. Raccoons suffer and feel pain just like any other animal, and this baby didn’t deserve this awful attack."
"Thanks to the Toronto police for helping this baby raccoon."
With files from CP24