Possum issue heads back to court
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals has sued to stop a new law meant to allow a New Year's Eve "possum drop" from taking effect.
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"Legalizing the cruel Opossum Drop by legalizing all conduct with opossums is both a dramatic overreach and an embarrassing example of political cronyism," PETA lawyer Jeffrey Kerr said in a statement. "PETA will continue to fight for the right of gentle opossums to be left in peace."
Kerr described the possum bill as "vague nonsense produced by the state legislature."
PETA has argued in the past that the loud cheers, fireworks and other noise likely traumatize the possum. Backers of the drop say the animal is well cared for during its captivity and released shortly after its service to the festivities.
In 2014, PETA argued that a similar law that applied just to Clay County created a "zone of lawlessness" for possums, and a state court agreed it likely was not constitutional.
PETA's latest lawsuit, filed in Wake County on Friday, seeks an injunction against the law for being overly vague.
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