Humane Society alum saves passel o' possums!!
Occurs with perfect timing to promote Humane Society baby shower for wild critters

June 12, 2006 -- The quick-sniffing nose of Wisconsin Humane Society alumnus Abe "the Babe" Doege led last week to the rescue of five baby possums whose mother lay dead, stiff and stinking on Story Parkway.

The rescue of possums pettiteus came just in time to remind people that the Humane Society needs their help to save more wild babies of all kinds, and to promote the Humane Society's Wildlife Baby Shower to be held from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. June 16 and and from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. June 17 at the Humane Society, 4500 W. Wisconsin Ave. All are invited.

Abe, best known for having a head too big for his-spare parts body, was modest about his new hero status. He actually would have been much happier sniffing out a hot dog or half a piece of pizza. He still recalls fondly the time he found an entire fully-cooked steak in a Story Hill yard.

The baby possums, meanwhile, are being cared for by the Humane Society's Wildlife Rehabilitation Center. Last year, the rehab center cared for more than 5,000 animals, and some 60% of them, like the pitiable possums, were orphaned babies.

Abe, a 2003 adoptee from that very Humane Society, sniffed out the possums as he and his cocky cocker spaniel sister, Sara Raitt Springsteen, were out for their morning constitutional with Dave, their clean-up guy. Abe sniffed poor, road kill mom first, then moved on to a young possum stumbling down the road.

Abe, seen here with the nose that found the little possum. The tongue was included free with the dog.

The pitiable possum was taken to the Humane Society, where a staff member suggested there could be other survivors.

Dave went backed to the dead possum and moved it with his foot.

"It was really like a rock," he said.

He rolled it over. Two sets of little legs poked out of Mom's pouch.

"The belly was still kind of soft where the babies were," Dave said.

He reached into the pouch and pulled out a baby possum. There were actually four, and he pulled them out one by one.

The baby possums, doing well at the Humane Society. To see larger images, click here. Humane Society photos

The babies, as of late last week, were doing well. The Wildlife Rehab Center, like the rescued possums, relies on the good will of others. Baby shower attendees are encouraged to bring shower gifts that will benefit possums, bunnies, birds, and other critters.

Here are some of the gifts the center needs:

Baby cereal
Baby food (chicken or beef)
Cracked and whole kernel corn
Eukanuba kitten food
Pedialyte or Ricelyte
Puppy Chow
Wild bird, finch, mixed and sunflower seed
Bleach
Blender, like new
Monetary donations, to be used to purchase special baby animal formulas.