My name is Theresa. I am a raccoon- child and used to live with my mummy under a house- roof. It was very cosy and warm there. I was happy! Mummy was out most nights mostly, and I had to stay in our small nest, until she returned.

One night my life completely changed in a horrid way: First I heard my mummy crying and screaming dreadfully. Through a small crack in the wood I could watch a large human, who hit mummy with his shovel. I was so scared that I hid myself quietly in a corner.

There I waited for my beloved mum. But she did not come back! I was hungry. My fear became greater, my crying ever louder: "Mummy, mummy!"

The large human, who had hit my mum, found me, pulled me out of my hiding place and threw me into a dark box! "Mummy, where are you???!!!" It was so cold and dark and I got more and more hungry, but my waiting for mummy was in vain! Suddenly my prison opened. "Mummy, is that you?" Again giant-large hands reached for me; but this time it was different: A bright voice spoke to me gently and quietly, nearly, as if it was my mother.

It was a human, who stroked me tenderly and put something strange into my mouth. That tasted nearly as it did with mummy and I had to suck real hard, so that I got more. My hunger was so big that it was all the I didn't care, what I actually drank, but I felt that this humans were devoted to me.

From this day on I had a new Mummy...

… Whom I nearly can love as much as my raccoon-mother. Brigitte, that's what my new mother is called, stroked me, gave me the bottle and let me always sleep with her. It was wonderful, but nevertheless I missed my own kind and sometimes I woke up in the middle of the night and remembered with frights the night, in which the man killed my mummy. Brigitte then took me immediately into her arms, and I was very relieved not to be alone.

I was not alone, there were other raccoon- children in similar situations and therefore I got brothers and sisters. We had our own house with a basket, trees to climb and even a swing. Mummy always was with us, gave us the bottle, played with us and put us to bed.

When we were old enough, we were all allowed to play outside near the water. There was so much to see and too sniff. Mummy daily took us for a long walk in the forest. She showed us, where we could find the delicious beetles and where to dig for roots. We learned very fast, how to climb up and down the trees but sometimes I ran out of strength. Then mummy had to get me with the leader from the tree. I am glad that she always there! I tried to never lose her out of my sight!

Today my 13 siblings and I are nearly grown up. Although we already run around alone outside, our mummy is still there for us. Every evening she waits for us and gives us our food.

Somehow we all are so tired and our hunger is getting less and less. Perhaps it is the cold weather the cold snow. Mostly we stay in our dens now, that dad has built for us under the terrace. We are always together and cuddle each other.

It is lovely to have a family!