I do not have pets. I foster dogs. I do software solutions for technology companies. I love raccoons but I have only seen wild ones. I have to raccoon proof my garbage. I went to a pet store yesterday. I saw a bearded dragon for the first time. I hear a raccoon fighting with a cat in my neighborhood. I am allergic to cats. I don't foster cats. I have a raccoon problem. I am trying to solve it. The raccoons are getting into my garbage. I find it difficult to see the dogs I foster come and go, but I enjoy fostering dogs. 
I have a bearded dragon as pets who eats crickets and worms. I am a zoo keeper. I have a brother who owns a grocery store. I have a raccoon who eats dog kibble, fish and eggs among other things. My raccoon is named Bandicoot. He has met dogs and is friendly toward them. He is 3 years old, and my 7 month old bearded dragon is named Bob. I have had Bob for 1 month. I work at a raccoon cafe with bandicoot. My raccoon was a rescue. I have had my raccoon over a month. I am used to my raccoon's smell. I think raccoons make a good pet. We cannot sell raccoons. I keep my garbage locked to keep the animals out and the wind from blowing it open.
I was able to get the aluminum sheeting for my garbage. I'm going to install it today and I'll let you know how my raccoon problem goes.  I hope it goes well for you. How come you don't just leave small bowls of food out and befriend the raccoons? It would solve your problem a lot faster, especially because raccoon's are so smart. Bandicoot knows how to open and unlock so many things, it's makes it difficult to keep him out of trouble. Which is why I take him to work with me. Ohhh.  That would be bad. I really do not want more raccoons or other animals coming around.  I like them OK, but I do not want to have some diseased ones get close to the house.  Understandable. Have you ever tried contacting animal control? That's how I got Bandicoot. I was working that day and animal control came by explaining about needing fosters for raccoons. I thought it was weird, so I did it and began to work at the small raccoon cafe that is part of the zoo. I love it.  That is a good idea.  Maybe they could help move them to a safer area.  I have a lot of traffic around and they could get hit if they are coming to my place all the time.  Have you been able to teach your raccoon any tricks? The only trick I was able to teach him, that I deeply regret, was how locks worked. I thought it was cool at first, you know, to see a raccoon unlock a door. And now, I regret it so much. I've had to change the layout of my apartment and put deadbolts on my doors so that Bandicoot can't get out. And, he is sneaky about it. One time, he unlocked the pantry and was eating some cookies! It's like having a toddler that never grows up. That is bad I guess.  Do you keep all of your chemicals, poisons, and medications up and locked?  I would hate to think what might happen if Bandicoot got into any of that.  Hey, when you drive do you lock him up in a cage or let him wander around in the car?  That could be dangerous for you driving and he freaks out. All the chemicals and poisons are in a gated lock in the basement. The lock requires a specific key, which I have hidden in my drawers. For medication, I have a small box that I also keep locked up, but it's a combination lock, so Bandicoot isn't able to get into it. For driving, I bought a harness that keeps him strapped in the back seat, he can move a bit, but mostly sturdy. I put blankets down and his favorite toys so that he stays calm. Sometimes, I'll pass small snacks to keep him occupied. I also take the side streets to work so that it's not too much for him. What about you? When you foster dogs, do you put them in a cage when you drive? I do keep the dogs secured. You never knwo how they are going to react.  Most of them I only have for a few days, so I really do not get a chance to see how they will act in all situations.   Oh, does that make you want to adopt a dog? I know you said it makes you sad to see them come and go, so why not adopt one? It easer to foster them right now.  If I go out of town for a few days and I had my own dog, I might not be able to take it with me.  So the foster stuff is best.  I can take in a dog for only the time I can spend a lot of time with it.  I think this is best for the dog. Oh, I see. Do you get paid to do this, or at least do they provide the food and what not? For Bandicoot, they provide his meals and insurance for any damages he may do to my house. I use to only feed him what they gave, but then, I began to spoil him.