We are family: Michelle and Sean Rhodes share their Portsmouth home with 20 pampered raccoons. The fury creatures have the run of the house and are regarded in the same way as the couple's two children
A family outing usually involves a bit of organisation.
But for Michelle and Sean Rhodes, any activity is something of an adventure.
With two children and 20 raccoons to consider, life is no simple challenge.
But according to the couple, the loveable creatures feel left out unless they are allowed to tag along.
Day out: The raccoons apparently feel left out if they are not allowed to tag along on family outings
And the Rhodes parents are so besotted with their 'gaze' of raccoons that they regard them like their children - 14-year-olds Jacob and Rosemarie - and spend £3,000 a year on their upkeep.
The family even forgo holidays because no-one else can be trusted to look after the animals.
Mrs Rhodes, 39, who does not work in order to care for the animals, and her husband, a business consultant, have dedicated the last four years to raising the creatures who now have the run of their three bedroom terraced house in Portsmouth.
The first member of the gang arrived after Mrs Rhodes stumbled across an unusual-pet seller on the internet.
Pampered pets: Mr and Mrs Rhodes are so besotted with their 'gaze' of raccoons that they regard them like their children - 14-year-olds Jacob and Rosemarie - and spend £3,000 a year on their upkeep
'He mentioned he had a three-day old raccoon on his books that needed hand-rearing,’ she said. 'We did some research over the internet and thought we would go for it.
'We didn't quite know what we were getting ourselves into, but we thought we'd go for it anyway. The next day we had a four day old raccoon delivered to our door.'
Four years on life, has been totally transformed with every household task being carried out with a raccoon either helping or hindering.
'Raccoons are my life,' Mrs Rhodes added. 'They are totally part of my family - my husband and kids love them to bits.
'But they are very clever and quite naughty when they put their minds to it.
VIPs: The family even forgo holidays because no-one else can be trusted to look after the animals
'In the wild they are naturally inquisitive scavengers and they are very good with their hands.
'They can go anywhere in the home - but I do try to draw the line at the kitchen.
'Having said that I saw one trying to copy the way I cut melon for him.
'I caught him with a knife in his paws trying to help himself to a slice.'
While 20 raccoons might seem a few too many for most, the Rhodes family is expanding. Five youngsters were bred this year and are being hand-raised after they were rejected by their mothers.
Growing family: Rosie Rhodes pictured with her new born pet raccoons. These five were bred this year
'Raccoons take a lot of love and people need to know what they're doing before they take them on,' Mrs Rhodes said.
'When I got my first raccoon I wasn't as aware as I am now. But I wouldn't change my decision to have racoons in the family for the world.'
Raccoons are native to north America where they live in forests as well as cities.
They are so adaptable that since they were introduced to Russia in the 1930's their population has spread across Asia into Europe. They have been spotted in the wild as far west as Denmark.
Bath time: Michelle Rhodes with Bobo. 'Raccoons are my life,' the mother-of-two said. 'They are totally part of my family - my husband and kids love them to bits. The family even forgo holidays for the animals
source: dailymail
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