Justice for Millie is sorry to share with you the news that our beloved namesake has passed away – poignantly, on the anniversary of the day that led to her becoming widely known for injuries she suffered for a night of local “entertainment” in western North Carolina.
Millie’s caregiver and chief advocate, Beth Sparks with The Opossum's Pouch Sanctuary, Rescue and Rehabilitation, made the difficult decision on December 31 to euthanize her. Millie had endured not just the trauma visited on her over the New Year’s Day holiday at the end of 2018, she had learned to live without the limb she lost at that time (her front left leg), and she had struggled with congestive heart failure, something Beth was certain resulted from the abuse she endured at human hands.
This announcement has been on hold for a number of reasons. Please know we wanted to tell you sooner.
Beth writes:
"Millie’s life began with me after she suffered a badly broken leg by a leg-hold trap. She was captured to be the entertainment for Clay Logan's Opossum Drop on News Year’s Eve. She was in pain during the event and the infection was so bad her leg had to be amputated. During the months that followed, Millie had to be taught that not all humans were unkind, that not all humans would harm her. She learned to recognize a kind voice and to accept the gentle touch that often came with a treat of cheese.
"Millie’s home offered a nice lower- and upper-level enclosure, and she learned to master the climbing up and climbing down between the two. As time passed and she learned to trust me, Millie decided a kitty bed in my closet was the perfect place to sleep. Shoe space was a small price to pay to give her comfort. As time passed Millie slowed down; she didn’t move around as much, spending more of her time sleeping. It seems the infection she suffered so badly when being held captive had caused issues with her heart. Millie left this world knowing love and kindness. She blessed me daily with the satisfaction of knowing I could show her some humans are compassionate. She was truly loved."
Live opossum “drops” remain legal in North Carolina. This, despite assertions to the contrary (by CNN, Wikipedia, and, inexplicably, our friends at PETA). We will say it again:
**Live opossum drops remain legal in North Carolina.**
For a reliable and comprehensive account of Millie's plight and the current status of opossum "drops" in North Carolina, see the excellent media coverage at https://www.yesweekly.com/.../article_76023516-8c53-56f1
The Brasstown locale, which is where the cruel tradition began, has not committed to never holding the event again. Regardless, the only way to stop the North Carolina live opossum drop is to overturn the permissive state law that makes it legal.
This law, passed by the NC legislature in 2015, suspends protections for opossums over the New Year holiday. It was created specifically to allow live opossum drops to continue.
The call for Justice for Millie demands that this law is repealed – that protections for opossums remain in place not 360 days a year, but 365.
Despite the popularity of this petition, the NC legislature has yet to act. Nevertheless, with new legislators seated and a new session under way, we are hopeful, with Millie in our hearts, that the state’s Be Cruel to Opossums Law will soon be relegated to history.
If you live in North Carolina, please contact your legislators and kindly encourage them to restore year-round protections for opossums in the state. (Find your legislators at www.commoncause.org
If you’d like to get updates and action alerts, please follow Justice for Millie (@MillieOpossum) on Facebook and Instagram.
Justice for Millie is a joint effort of and Animal Help Now and The Opossum's Pouch Sanctuary, Rescue and Rehabilitation.