A dog owner who has been left devastated after his pet went missing is worried people may treat her like a wild animal – because she looks like a RACCOON.
Kekei is a rare ‘raccoon dog’ and went missing last week after her lead broke and she bounded away from her owner, Michael McKenna.
Now Michael, 51, is concerned that Kekei, an East Asian breed of canine, will be shunned by the public because of her resemblance to her namesake.
Michael, who lost Kekei in Stanley Park, Blackpool, Lancs., said: “I’ve been out looking for her day and night.
“Raccoon dogs are hunting dogs – in the wild they’ll hunt for food – but Kekei has been hand-reared since she was born.
“She’s never wanted for food. She will have no clue what to do.”
Despite their namesake, raccoon dogs are more closely related to foxes and wolves than the common raccoon and domestic raccoon dogs are quite common throughout Finland, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania.
Despite being unusual as a pet, the domestic raccoon dog is known for its gentle nature, they do not bark or wag their tails like their more popular canine relatives.
Michael described Kekei as “very timid” and is worried that people will simply think she’s a wild raccoon or a fox.
Michael, a bricklayer, said: “She’s not used to other people and she’s very timid.
“She’ll probably be hiding somewhere until it’s dark, and then she’ll come out.
”If people see her they wouldn’t think she was a dog. They’d think she was a wild animal. They’d probably think she was a wild raccoon or a fox.”
Michael has asked anybody who sees Kekei to contact him immediately and is worried for his pet’s safety.
He said: “‘I keep thinking about her hiding somewhere confused and crying.”
Anyone who thinks they’ve seen Kekei the raccoon is urged to call Michael McKenna on 07482942229.
