Finally, someone who makes a sensible comment. You are so right. It’s a known fact that those can be cruel to animals as children can grow into adults who can be violent criminals.
Clearly, you’ve never lived with a raccoon. They are intelligent, very social animals. If they get into your trash, well, you like to eat, too, don’t you? Varmints, they aren’t.
So the critters Over the Hedge are smarter than most Americans. But that’s the point, isn’t it? :-)