A lot of people are against breeders, not all breeders are monsters who abuse animals, and overpopulate the earth. In most states it is completely illegal to keep a wild raccoon kit, even if it is orphaned. This means that in order to keep a raccoon as a pet, you must purchase from a state and usda licensed breeder. Not all breeders are bad, but not all are good, so here are some things to help you decide who is best for you.
Once you have given clear thought to owning a raccoon, and decide that it is a journey you are confident to take, you now need to figure out where your newest family member is coming from. When I was getting started, I just went ahead and googled, "Raccoon Breeders in Pa." As you can imagine, there really aren't many breeders to choose from, especially since you must buy from within the state here. A few options did come up though, so I went ahead and checked out their sites. You can also check with your states game commission, or wild life department, or in states near yours, and they may be able to provide you with some names of reputable breeders.
When scanning over sites, here are some things to look for...1. Do they clearly state that they are licensed to breed wildlife?
2. Do they provide all contact information; address, phone, email, breeder's name?
3. Do they require a security deposit? Is it non-refundable?
4. Do they offer a health guarantee, money back guarantee, or replacement of the kit if if ended up with something wrong?
5. Has the site been recently updated? (Like does it mention a list of prices for 2012, or are all the dates from years ago?)
I began my search in the fall of 2011. A few of the sites I came across were well put together, but one I came across, made it very clear that they did not want to be contacted until after the new year, and would not be returning any phone calls or emails, or excepting deposits until then. This was a red flag to me as bring home a wild pet is a huge decision and as a breeder, they should be willing to answer any questions someone may have. Another red flag was that one of the breeders had a link to their taxidermy site. I understand that someone may be a hunter, and still love animals, but I feel it's in bad taste to mix the two from a business stand point. So just be very aware of what is on the breeders site and read everything there. Don't just look at all the cute raccoon pictures, look at what other animals are available as well.
The next step I would recommend taking is to search the breeders name online. See what you can turn up. Usually a disgruntled customer is going to complain, and you can bet they will be willing to spread their annoyance online. If they are stating that they didn't get their money back, when they changed their mind on buying an exotic pet, then that's one thing, but be cautious if they are claiming that they bought a pet raccoon, only to have it die a week later. Also search their name on their local new station's site. This could turn up information if they were fined for not caring properly for their animals, or if they were selling illegally. If you search and turn up nothing, then the breeder may be a decent one.
Now that you've gone every route you can online, it's time to call the breeder, and speak directly to them. The breeder we decided to go with answered our call immediatly. It was comforting that he was available to talk, and was willing to answer all questions we had. He gave a very realistic answers, and didn't try to push us into a purchase. He made it very clear that he wanted his animals to go to good homes.
When speaking to the breeder here are some things to pay attention to...1. Does the breeder answer your call, or are they quick to return your call?
2. Does the breeder seem distracted and rushing to get off the phone, or are they friendly and engaging in conversation?
3. Does the breeder seem to be pushing you to make a quick decision and to sell you on the idea of buying a raccoon, or are they guiding you to do your research, and informing you that it is a life changing decision?
4. Are they willing to let you come to their facility or home to make your deposit, or are they requiring you to do it through mail or paypal?
5. Is there facility open to the public, or are they a closed business?
6. Are they willing to let give you references or provide you with their veterinarian's number?
Some of these questions may sound strange, but they are important. If the person isn't very interested in your business, or in speaking to you, then they aren't likely to provide you with good customer service, or post purchase trouble shooting. You want someone you can call, when trouble arrises down the road, and who can offer you experienced advise. Not someone who is annoyed by your calls, or worse, ignores them all together. You also want a breeder who cares for their raccoons, and isn't rushing you into a decision, but rather tries to help you figure out how a raccoon would fit into your lifestyle. If they are concerned that their coons are going to good homes, then they are probably raising healthy, well handled raccoons at their facility.
The reason to be sure you are able to go to their facility or home, and not seeking payment through mail or online, is so you know it's not a fraud. If you have not inquired through your state, then you don't know for sure if it's a real breeding facility or not. People can post whatever they want online, and can find pictures of raccoons anywhere. Don't expect them to let you do a walk through of their facility, because most have to be closed to the public unless they purchase specific menagerie licenses from the state. Do try to be aware of your surroundings though, as their home, or facility can tell you a lot about the quality of animal you are purchasing as well. If the home or office is dirty, and cluttered, and smells strong of fecal matter, then the caging for the raccoons probably isn't much better.
It is a good thing if the facility where the breeding parents are kept is closed to the public, as this means just anyone cannot have contact with them or the babies.
Last thing, is if they will provide you with references and/ or their veterinarian's number. This way you can call up the vet and be sure that the animals are being treated and that the breeder has nothing to hide. You can also speak to references, if they are someone who bought a raccoon from the breeder, and ask how their raccoon is thriving now.
These are just some things, I thought important, to choosing a breeder where you could get a healthy kit. Take what you want, and leave what you want, but just be sure to do your research before getting yourself involved financially, or you may be out lots of money, and no raccoon in the end!
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