New Year’s Eve is officially safer for opossums in Andrews, N.C. Andrews traditionally rings in the New Year with an opossum drop, but after pressure from animal activists, the town decided to celebrate the beginning of 2020 with a womanless beauty pageant and professional wrestling tournament instead.
The traditional opossum drop began in the 1990s and involves placing the poor creature in a plexiglass block and lowering it, in lieu of a ball, at the stroke of midnight. Unable to escape the fireworks and crowds of people, the opossum is forced to wait out this event in excruciating fear.
Mayor James Reid reconsidered the tradition after Millie, last year’s victim of this strange and cruel tradition, sustained injuries when trapped by members of the community. Her leg needed amputation as a result.
Reid expressed regret for his past mistakes and committed to an animal-free celebration.
“Times are changing,” Reid told the Wall Street Journal. “Our plan is to have an awesome party and not have any live animals involved whatsoever.”
Unfortunately, the Andrews opossum drop is not an isolated case. Other towns, such as Tallapoosa, Ga., also participate in this cruel and inhumane tradition. Andrews proves that public outcry can make a difference. Please, contact all local officials that allow for such an inconsiderate celebration to occur and urge them to switch to a more compassionate and cruelty-free alternative event.
Great news that one town di ontinued the possum drop!
Warum müssen Menschen immer wieder wehrlose Mitgeschöpfe zu ihrem Spaß quälen? Das ist so armselig und zeigt wie wenig diese Menschen im Kopf haben, schlimm das Menschen so sind und kaum gestoppt werden.
The New Year’e Eve Celebration in Tallapoosa, Ga uses a STUFFED POSSUM ! This celebration Does Not use and has Never Used a live animal in their celebration. The possum used was found dead on a roadway many years ago by a local Taxidermist and preserved. The possum is used in the celebration as a tribute to the towns history which was named “Possum Snot” by the local Indians in the early 1800’s. It is a Family Friendly Event which provides a Fun and Safe New Year’s Eve Celebration for families. Organizers of the Tallapoosa Celebration were contacted by PETA in 2011. PETA actually approved the Tallapoosa celebration and used it in their charges in court against the North Carolina celebration as an acceptable way an animal could be used.
For more information and history of the Tallapoosa Celebration visit their website: http://www.thepossumdrop.com
Still a creep factor using a dead possum! Move away from that so people will think of animals more humanely than some dark, sick entertainment!
“…and not have any live animals involved whatsoever.” One problem with this showed up right down the road from Andrews, NC at Brasstown. The guy there had a New Year’s ” ‘Possum Drop, and when animal rights people protested it, he did a dead opossum drop instead. The guy said it was “road kill”, but I wonder if he’s the one who killed the critter.
It would be “funny”, if only it were funny.
Cruelty needs to STOP and very thankful times are changing.
I am so glad to hear this and I hope other states that have cruel live animal events will also stop.
Animals have feelings…we wouldn’t condone this if it were cats or dogs or any domestic animal and
all animals are the same…Not one different from the other..
Thanks to the activists for getting this accomplished!
Until we stop consuming and hurting animals in any form, we remain less than humans.
Terrible
Poor Bella. Humans are vile.
Les animaux ne sont pas des objets et doivent être respectés, protégés !
Poor Bella! I cannot imagine the evil, wicked ghastly pair of degenerates, to do something so mean. So Cruel. I really want Bella to pull through, to be well and happy.
I will never understand some humans
I have an idea. How about a “Redneck Drop” instead.
I have an idea. How about a “Redneck Drop” instead.
Congrats brave people. Let this be the first of many cruel events like this being outlawed.
This kind of human behavior needs to be recognized for the evil barbarism that it is. Humans who take pleasure in the torture of any living being, for ENTERTAINMENT(!) show a serious indication of lack of humanity and conscience. The most dangerous predator on earth is a human without a conscience! And governments need to be concerned about being complicators of evil.
What manner of sick-minded creatures exist in Andrews, NC? Perhaps they have been drinking too much moonshine or just plain evil and wicked creatures who enjoy the torture of God’s animals. I am very thankful for all the animal activists who brought the issue to light and was instrumental in shutting down this cruel event. But as I read to the end of this story, I see that another ignorant hillbilly town in Georgia participates in the same animal cruelty. Can’t these “things” do something else besides torturing innocent animals or are they all just a bunch of discarded waste products? Why don’t they use their pea-sized brains to do something positive? Educate your minds and get involve with life’s issues such as climate change, ministering to others about the Word of God(if you believe), etc. Leave God’s animals alone.
Thank goodness this will not happen again and at least, even if later than it should be, Mayor Reid saw that it was a cruel and wrong way to treat possums and showed regret for what was done to them.
Even India has made a move to make it illegal to use animals in entertainment. It’s time the rest of the world follows this value.
“The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated.” — Mahatma Gandhi
So glad about possoms .India is a evil sick place abusers and murderers of elephants should be stood near a wall and shot .these ebil sick nonhuman so called humans are one set of the biggest pile of evil abusing filth on our earth .filthy heartless trash no human .these elephants are more human and loving than these indian trash will ever be .They are just scum of our world
Who ever thought of this horror? A psychotic imbecile! And more imbeciles that think this is soooo much fun to watch.
I can not believe, what perversions people are capable of. It´s disgusting!!!
thank you for your compassion and reverence for life!!!
Times are changing thank god.
Trsocalled traditions will become a thing of the past.
Happy!
B
Wondeful
Wondeful
What the hell is wrong with people? Opossum drop is one of the most stupid things I’ve ever heard of. I worry about the intelligence, or lack of, in people these days.
YES!!!