this is kinda sad, i used 2 do it on sims 1 wen i was bored. [helps if u hav sims 2 pets] create a small enclosure with a pet bowl a toy and a bed, then place a animal in it, suchas a dog, do the samewith a cat in a differant 1 right next to it, then make a new enclosure nd put the bin inside it, and try nd get the racoon to go in it! And expand urzoo!
Also another thing to do is make small little houses with a bed and just the normal things, and make a little garden for each of them (all in the same estate) and put ur sims inside it, hav 1 sim wich has a proper house and like giv the jail sims the left overs of the the food, and say if, u find a sim studying, giv them a reward like a painting arch! :D