u/Beginning_Chance4264

I find it funny this sub is called possums but i have not found a picture of a single possum. Opossums on the other hand, yes. Possums are in Australia opossums are in North America. Possums are wonderful creatures and need our help to not go extinct. It would be great to see a ton of people talking about them!

Also how do you guys feel about pet stores giving out opossums? Im in NC and they are protected because they are a native species. Some people are just grabbing them from outside. Anyone else concerned about that like I am?

Ive had a lot of customers come in asking about how to keep an opossum.. one got it from a Cherokee reserve rescue (I dont know how they think they are rescuing them) and another said they took it off the sidewalk. To my knowledge it is illegal in NC to keep them because they are a protected native species. According to google it is a $1,000-$5,000 fine or up to 6 months of jail time. I believe you may be able to get permits to keep but im not sure what that entails I don’t feel comfortable helping them because 1: its illegal and i don’t want to be caught in that and 2: THE ANIMAL WILL NOT BE HAPPY! There are no enclosures or foods that we sell that are suitable for them. One woman got really pissed at me for saying that we don’t have any enclosures big enough and that the outside dog pens are hardly enough room for them and she bought a RAT CAGE. I almost cried. That poor baby got taken from his home and is now wasting away in something they cant even stretch out in let alone climb and exercise. Does anyone know the rules for when a customer asks or brings in an animal that is illegal to keep?? Im thinking about reaching out to corporate and forcing an answer out of them. I’ve made the personal decision that in the future I will not help them. If they want to ask my manager about it go for it but no im not selling you ANYTHING that might hurt an animal of any sort.