Just like a stork delivers a baby, a bundle of joy was dropped from above and landed in Rosie Kemp’s backyard. The bundle of joy, in this case, is not a child but a 1-month-old raccoon. It fell from a tree and broke one of its back legs in doing so.

Kemp had a very weak raccoon on her hands and waited to see if the mother would come back to claim her baby. But, she didn’t, and Kemp ended up taking the baby inside to recover.

Kemp lives in the Bahamas, where it is legal to own a raccoon but, there aren’t any shelters or rescues around that take in raccoons.

With that being said, Kemp and her daughter, Laura Young, wanted to give the little fellow the best chances of survival and decided to raise the raccoon on their own.

They named the little cub Pumpkin and would spend hours a day making sure she was fed and stayed warm.

“Raising her was (and still is) a full-time job,” Young told The Dodo. “They are so unbelievably intelligent, very aware, and I would say they are even able to express emotions.”

Pumpkin is now living with Young and her husband, along with their two dogs.

Everyone appears to be getting along and loving each other’s company. You can see all the adventures in paradise on Pumpkin’s Instagram page.

“She instantly bonded with us and our two rescue dogs and follows me and our two dogs everywhere we go,” Young said. “She now thinks she is a dog … she is able to play and be rough with them and she respects them when they have had enough.”

Pumpkin does all the things the dogs do.

They lay on the couch together, go swimming, play with each other, and of course, get into all of the food.

However, Pumpkin, at times, also shows off her independence.

Young said one-morning Pumpkin wanted out of the room.

So, she climbed into a basket near the door and tried to open the knob herself.

“Raccoons are NOT pets,” Young explained. “They are wild animals, so they are quite moody. Unlike dogs and cats, they are not domesticated. Like a spoilt child if she doesn’t get her way, she will let you know.”

Even though Pumpkin would have been more fit for the wild, her human parents try and give her everything she needs to thrive.

In fact, Pumpkin seems very happy with her life. Young said Pumpkin loves air conditioning and enjoys treats like sunny-side-up eggs and watermelon.

Incredibly, she’s even learned to use the toilet when she goes potty.

Thanks to Young and her family, the adult raccoon has a forever home and a great life ahead of her.

Pumpkin’s life is indeed a bit unusual, but, at the very least, she has a family that looks after her and her happiness.

“We are very lucky with her and always want and will do what is best for Pumpkin,” Young said. “But for now she is very happy with us and the dogs!”

Update: In October of 2019, Pumpkin passed away at the age of 5.

“Two weeks ago today we had to say goodbye to our beautiful girl. I am so completely ruined that I can barely see what I am typing as there are so many tears pouring down my face,” Pumpkin’s owner, Laura Young, announced to the raccoon’s Instagram following of 1.4 million on Oct. 30.

“My husband said it perfectly, she is now forever dreaming of avocados, eggs, and sips of my leftover tea. Her passing came as a complete shock to us and we are still trying to come to terms with it,” the heartbroken owner continued. “Our house is so much quieter. I keep looking up to the cupboard to see her little face, have called her name to come inside for dinner, and hold back tears when I see Toffee [the family dog] sniffing around for her to come and play.”

While it’s heartbreaking that Pumpkin is no longer with her family, it is comforting to know that this lucky raccoon had a life that others of her kind could only dream of.

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Source: The Dodo, Fox News, CNN