Saskatoon family wants to keep raccoon as pet

A Saskatoon family is worried they'll lose the raccoon they keep as a pet.

Officials say it's not permitted for the Hook family to keep "Dennis" in their home.

So Wendy and Ron Hook have high-tailed it out of the city to keep the critter from being taken away.

They're talking to media because they hope the city will change its mind and let them keep him.

He's a "precious gift", Wendy Hook says, adding he is lots of fun.

"He has full run of the house," she said. "We've never had him kennelled or caged. He sleeps with us at night."

The worst case scenario for us would be having Dennis taken away from us- Wendy Hook

Hook said she found the animal 17 months ago in a barn and he has been with them ever since. He weighs about 14 kilograms.

"He is rewarding in so many ways," Hook said. "But he is a lot of work. He's the most intensive pet I've ever had. He requires constant vigilance because he will get into trouble. I have child safety locks on my cupboard doors."

According to research on relevant laws, it is OK, under provincial rules, to have a raccoon as a pet so long as it is kept in a cage. In Saskatoon, however, raccoon and other exotic animals are not allowed as pets.

Hook is staying at friend's place, out of the city, to avoid problems in Saskatoon.

"The worst case scenario for us would be having Dennis taken away from us, and eventually and probably [he] would be destroyed," she said.

Wild things should be in the wild, expert says

CBC News spoke to wildlife expert John Moran who has raised many orphaned animals.

He says wild animals, such as a raccoon, belong in the wild.

"Sooner or later, that animal is going to get aggressive," Moran said.

Hook said she plans to make a formal request of Saskatoon to amend the city's bylaw so she can keep the raccoon.