Denise Hollowell
Founder & Executive Director
Has not owned a closed trash can since 2019. Still sets a place at the table for Gerald.
About Us
Saving raccoons from dumpsters, one dumpster at a time
Our Story
Trash Panda Humane Society was founded in 2019 by Denise Hollowell, after a raccoon moved into her garage. Then her kitchen. Then, in a very real sense, her life.
She named him Gerald. Gerald brought friends. The friends brought cousins. By that fall, Denise had eleven raccoons, no working trash cans, and a calling. She sold her car, bought a large shed, and hung a sign out front that read "PLEASE TAKE ONE."
Nobody took one. So she built a website. Since then, we have found homes for over a thousand raccoons, and every one of them has come back to visit, usually around 3am, usually through the cat flap.
1,412Raccoons rehomed
38 tonsTrash recovered (they were still eating it)
4,900 lbsGrapes donated
0Trash cans that have ever kept one out
Our Mission
Every raccoon deserves a warm home, a full belly, and an unlocked garbage can.
We believe there is no such thing as a bad raccoon. There are only raccoons who have not yet found the right dumpster. Our job is to match each bandit with a family that loves them, understands them, and keeps the good snacks on a high shelf they will reach anyway.
Meet the Team
Marcus Oyelaran
Volunteer Coordinator
Carries blueberries at all times. Wiggles knows this. Wiggles has always known this.
Priya Nandakumar
Vet Tech
Has weighed Noodle eleven times. Is writing a paper about it. The paper is also eleven pages.
Gary Tibbs
Facilities
Replaces the supply closet lock every Tuesday. Professor Snacks opens it every Wednesday. Gary calls this "job security."
Mabel
Honorary Staff Grandmother
Unpaid. Takes her salary in cookies, directly from your hand, without asking. Also available for adoption.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are raccoons good pets?
Honestly? No. They are wild animals with tiny hands and big plans. They will destroy your house and there will be nothing you can do about it to stop them.
Why are you only open at night?
Most of our residents are nocturnal. Our staff is not, but they have stopped fighting it.
Do you accept returns?
The raccoon decides. If they want to come back, they will be on our porch by morning. If they don't, they now own your house. Either way, the paperwork is the same.
There's a raccoon in my attic. Can I drop it off?
If a raccoon is in your attic, it has already dropped itself off. For real, though: call your local wildlife rehab or animal control. They know what they're doing. We just write bios.
Can I donate food?
Yes! Our most requested items are grapes, hard-boiled eggs, and rotisserie chicken. Please don't leave donations by the door. You know what will happen.
Why does your shelter smell like that?
We'd rather not talk about it.
Visit Us
Hours
Open nightly, 9pm to 4am
Closed during full moons (too much excitement)
Location
The big green dumpster behind the taco shop
Turn left at the knocked-over recycling bin
Phone
We don't have one anymore.
Pickles chewed through the cord.