What began as a bizarre local headline quickly turned into something much bigger: a viral sensation, a beloved accidental mascot, and now, a surprisingly successful fundraising campaign for a struggling local animal shelter. Thanks to a cleverly marketed line of T-shirts featuring the infamous raccoon, Cedar Hollow Animal Haven is receiving more attention — and more donations — than it has in years.
This is the story of how one “drunk” raccoon went from ransacking a liquor store to becoming a symbol of community compassion and a strangely adorable ambassador for rescue animals everywhere.
The Break-In Heard ’Round the Town
On the night of December 14th, temperatures dropped into the single digits. Maple Grove Liquors manager, Tom Alvarez, assumed his biggest issue would be slow foot traffic. Instead, at dawn, he and assistant manager Becky Larson unlocked the shop and froze in disbelief.
“There were broken mini-bottles everywhere,” Larson said, recalling the moment with a mix of horror and amusement. “Little brandy bar bottles, schnapps, even two Cabernet half-pints. And right in the middle of this disaster was one extremely intoxicated raccoon, lying on his back like he had no regrets.”
Security footage later revealed how the raccoon managed the heist: slipping through an unsecured vent grate, knocking over a display of holiday sampler bottles, and then sampling as many as his tiny body could handle. The footage showed the raccoon wobbling, sniffing, and occasionally licking spilled liquid off the floor before curling up behind a cardboard display of peppermint vodka shooters.
By morning, he was sleeping soundly — and snoring.
Local authorities were called, and Cedar Hollow Wildlife Rescue, a small volunteer-run organization, arrived to retrieve the culprit.
“When we picked him up, he smelled like a college frat party,” laughed Jamie Porter, a wildlife technician who attended the call. “But he was otherwise healthy — dehydrated and definitely intoxicated, but okay. We monitored him for a few hours until he sobered up. Raccoons are shockingly resilient.”
Going Viral: The ‘Trashed Panda’ Takes Over the Internet
It didn’t take long for the story to explode online. Maple Grove Liquors posted a lighthearted photo of the raccoon being carried out in a blanket, along with a caption: “Not the customer we expected this season.” Within hours, the picture had thousands of shares, and national media outlets began picking up the story.
“He became an overnight celebrity,” Porter said. “People couldn’t get enough of him. Some were calling him a menace, others a hero. There were memes everywhere — raccoons wearing sunglasses, raccoons passed out on couches, fake motivational posters like ‘Party Hard, Nap Harder.’”
Soon the raccoon was unofficially renamed “Trashed Panda,” a joking twist on the internet’s affectionate nickname for raccoons: “trash pandas.”
But behind the humor, Cedar Hollow Wildlife Rescue noticed something interesting. Their organization — chronically underfunded and often overlooked — was suddenly receiving an influx of messages from people wanting updates on the raccoon, asking how they could help, and expressing interest in supporting wildlife rehabilitation.
“We thought: this is an opportunity,” said Porter. “A weird opportunity — but still an opportunity.”
A Shelter in Trouble
Cedar Hollow Animal Haven, the partner shelter to the wildlife rescue, had been struggling for months. Rising food costs, seasonal illnesses among dogs and cats, and declining donations left the staff worried about how they would get through winter. They had been planning a small fundraiser, but nothing substantial.
“When you run a shelter, you get used to making every dollar stretch,” said Shelter Director Marlene Ortiz. “But the past year had been especially tough. We had animals in need of medical care, heating bills, repairs… everything was piling up.”
After seeing the explosive reaction to the raccoon story, Ortiz met with the wildlife rescue team. What if they used the raccoon’s newfound fame to bring attention — and funding — to the shelter?
“I mean, we already had the memes,” Ortiz said. “It felt like the universe was telling us to do something.”
The idea was simple: create a line of T-shirts featuring the “Trashed Panda,” with proceeds going directly to animal care.
The T-Shirt That Started It All
Local graphic designer Leo Nguyen, known for quirky animal illustrations, volunteered to create the designs. Within a day, he produced several options: a cartoon raccoon wearing sunglasses and holding a miniature liquor bottle, a raccoon clinging to a wine bottle like a teddy bear, and perhaps the most popular design — the raccoon sprawled out on the floor with the caption:
“Trashed Panda: Didn’t Choose the Party Life. The Party Life Chose Him.”
The shirts were printed by Pine Needle Press, a nearby small-business printer. They launched an online shop and made a small batch of 200 shirts available.
They sold out in under three hours.
“We couldn’t believe it,” Ortiz said. “Orders were coming in from New York, Seattle, even Canada. Suddenly we had a fundraiser on our hands that was actually working.”
Within a week, additional merchandise was added: hoodies, tote bags, stickers, and even a limited-edition holiday ornament with the raccoon in a Santa hat.
And the raccoon? He was doing fine — released back into a forested area once he was completely recovered, unaware that he had become a marketing sensation.
From Local Disaster to Local Hero
As orders continued to flow in, so did donations. Many came with messages like:
- “Bought three shirts! Hope Trashed Panda is doing well!”
- “Bless this chaotic little guy.”
- “Supporting the shelter because of the raccoon — thanks for taking care of him!”
In the first two weeks alone, the campaign raised over $12,000, enough to cover medical supplies, spay/neuter surgeries, and critical winter care.
Perhaps the most significant change, Ortiz noted, was the uptick in adoptions.
“People started visiting the shelter saying they heard about us through the raccoon story,” she explained. “Families who had no idea we even existed were suddenly stopping by. We adopted out eight dogs and twelve cats in one weekend. That never happens.”
The raccoon’s fame had become a beacon for animals who desperately needed homes.
A Community United by a Raccoon
Local businesses joined in the fun. Maple Grove Liquors displayed a cardboard cutout of the raccoon next to a donation box. Brewed Awakening Coffee Shop introduced a new seasonal drink: “The Trashed Panda Mocha” — a chocolate-hazelnut blend with whipped cream “pawprints” on top. A children’s bookstore hosted a “Raccoon Reading Day.”
“It’s funny,” Alvarez said. “He caused a big mess here, but now he’s the reason people are coming through our door with donations. I can’t even be mad about the broken bottles anymore.”
Parents began bringing their kids to see where the raccoon had been found. Posters went up around town with reminders like “Secure your trash cans — and your Cabernet.”
Even the mayor acknowledged him in a city council meeting, calling the raccoon “a symbol of chaos, resilience, and community spirit.”
Behind the Humor, a Serious Message
While the raccoon’s escapades brought laughter, the shelter used the attention to raise awareness about wildlife behavior and urban animal encounters.
“Raccoons aren’t trying to cause trouble,” Porter emphasized. “They’re opportunists. When food sources are scarce, they get creative — sometimes too creative. But they don’t deserve harm or fear. They deserve understanding.”
The nonprofit hopes to use some funds to build educational programs on coexistence with wildlife, safe disposal of food waste, and preventing break-ins (by raccoons and other critters).
“It’s a win-win,” Porter said. “People get a funny story to share, and animals get the support they desperately need.”
Where Is Trashed Panda Now?
Following full recovery, Trashed Panda was released at a secluded wooded location a few miles outside town. Wildlife staff report that he returned to his typical raccoon behaviors — rooting, climbing, exploring — thankfully with no signs of alcohol-seeking tendencies.
“He was perfectly happy to go,” Porter said. “Though he did give the wine aisle a few longing glances before we let him go.”
Tracking cameras placed in the area show that he has been thriving — raiding berry bushes, not bar shelves.
Still, the shelter plans to keep tabs on him, at least for a few months.
“If he ever comes back, we just hope he stays away from the vodka display,” Alvarez joked.
The Lasting Impact
What started as accidental comedy has transformed into a powerful example of how communities can rally around causes — even in the strangest ways.
The shelter has long-term plans to expand outdoor play areas, upgrade kennels, and create a dedicated space for medical treatment. Their biggest fundraiser of the year is now, unexpectedly, a raccoon who couldn’t hold his liquor.
“It’s remarkable,” Ortiz said, shaking her head with a smile. “We’ve hosted charity dinners, silent auctions, bake sales — none of them made even close to this much. But one tipsy raccoon? That did it.”
People all over the world have reached out to say they felt connected to Trashed Panda’s story — that the tale of a mischievous animal getting a second chance resonated with them.
“There’s something oddly relatable about it,” Nguyen, the designer, said. “Who hasn’t had a night that spiraled out of control? He’s like the patron saint of bad decisions — and redemption.”
More Than Just a Meme
Trashed panda t shirt If success can be measured by the number of happy animals who now have warm beds, full bellies, and better futures, then Trashed Panda’s legacy is already immense.
As Ortiz put it:
“Sometimes the heroes we need are the ones we least expect. In our case? A little raccoon with a drinking problem.”
The T-shirt campaign continues, with new designs being released monthly. The shelter hopes that the raccoon’s viral moment becomes a long-lasting source of support.
“We’re grateful,” Ortiz said. “To him, to the community, to everyone who chose to laugh, share, and help. This started as a mess — a literal mess — and turned into something beautiful.”
And somewhere out in the cedar woods, the unlikely hero of Cedar Hollow is probably curled up in a tree hollow, dreaming of adventure — hopefully far from any unattended liquor stores.