Dogs are a lot like toddlers—always getting into mischief and showing their sass when they're feeling cheeky. Anyone who's spent time with dogs knows they can get up to all sorts of antics. But, in their defense, it's not always their fault. A fluffy chow named Duke found himself in a bit of a pickle, simply being his sweet, happy self. His owner, who lovingly manages Duke's TikTok account, posted a video sharing what happened when he returned home after a romp in the yard.
As Duke trotted back inside, his owner noticed something dark brown clinging to his fur, but at first, she couldn’t make it out clearly. Once she had a better look, she was shocked by what she discovered. In the video, she calls Duke over for a closer view, zooming in so their followers can see what he had gotten into. After tugging gently with a towel, it was revealed that Duke had befriended a baby possum.
Now, this wasn’t just any possum—it was an Australian native possum, bigger than the baby possums you might be used to seeing in the U.S. Despite its size, it was undeniably adorable. Duke, on the other hand, looked utterly perplexed as his mom removed the little critter from his chest, gently saying, “That’s what was attached to you.” With a cheery “Hi, little fella!”, she placed the possum on a fence and set it free to reunite with its family—or at least other possums who could help teach it the difference between canine friends and possum moms.
In the comments, Duke’s owner answered curious questions from viewers. When one asked about Duke’s reaction to the possum, she shared that he was upset they couldn’t keep it. She also clarified that Duke hadn’t tried to bite the possum, as he’s used to being gentle thanks to his interactions with the family’s cats. For those who mistook the possum for a sugar glider, she explained, “It was 100% a possum. We don’t have sugar gliders where I live. It didn’t have winged arms or the characteristic stripe.”
Given the owner’s accent and Duke’s TikTok account name, “Duke of Hawthorn,” it's likely they live in Australia. While it’s a surprise when a dog brings home a new animal friend, it’s a story Duke’s owner will probably be telling for years.