NEW ORLEANS — When Bill Voiles came upon a dead opossum last March in New Orleans, he realized a baby opossum was next to it.
“When I got him, he still had his eyes closed,” said Voiles.
Voiles took the animal home, cared for him, and named him Saffron.
“All my animals that I’ve had since I’ve been in New Orleans have been after spices,” said Voiles.
A year later, Saffron was part of the family, along with Voiles’ two dogs, Nutmeg and Garlic.
“Nutmeg, Garlic, and Saffron, also known as the Spice Boys,” said Voiles.
Voiles says Saffron is like a child and goes just about everywhere he goes. Saffron has become a popular presence in the French Quarter and pulls in tips.
“Even the people that don’t like opossums, they get a kick out of just watching him,” said Voiles.
During Mardi Gras weekend that joy was shattered when agents from the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries walked up.
“That’s when they took him and put him in the cage and took him away from me and gave me tickets for having him,” said Voiles.
It was part of a crackdown on exotic animal possession in the French Quarter.
“When they took him away, he was trying to reach back like a little kid reaching back for his mother when he’s being taken away,” said Voiles.
Because opossums are considered wild animals in Louisiana, they’re illegal to own without a permit. A spokesperson for wildlife and fisheries told WWL Louisiana the department couldn’t comment or disclose where Saffron is because it’s a legal matter.
“They did tell me that he is being taken care of and he’s well and everything,” said Voiles.
A similar scene happened last year when agents threatened to take a Jefferson Parish family’s pet nutria. Neuty, as he’s known in his Bucktown community, became an immediate sensation.
After Neuty’s owners applied for a special permit, the state backed off. Neuty was allowed to stay. He was even the grand marshal for the Krewe of Argus parade.
“Saffron means a great deal to all of us,” said Voiles.
Voiles just wants to be reunited with his pet. As of Wednesday afternoon, an online petition to “Save Saffron” had gotten nearly 11,000 signatures, with people voicing their support.
“Saffron needs to go home to Billy and the other pets. Saffron was a little nothing when Billy brought him home. That’s all he’s ever known,” said one supporter.
“It’s cruel to not let this man have his opossum back. His opossum was raised as a pet as part of the family,” said another supporter.
At least three snakes were also seized during that exotic animal crackdown. Voiles says he was contacted by the Humane Society which is working with a lawmaker to help reunite him with Saffron.
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