Don’t buy exotic pets, says racoons’ ‘mammy’

Animal rescue volunteers have appealed to the public not to buy exotic pets after they added two baby racoons to the scores of homeless creatures in their care.

Brother and sister, Bonnie and Clyde, are thriving at three months old thanks to the dedication of their human “mammy”, Heather Wall, who took them in at three weeks old and fed them every three hours, day and night for weeks.

But while the mischievous pair are loving their new home at the Irish Wildlife Sanctuary at Wells House and Gardens at Ballyedmond, Co Wexford, and have been an instant hit with visitors, Heather warned the allure of owning an exotic pet was best resisted.