New England woman goes through Walmart self-checkout. Then she shows it’s to protect the tiny creature she rescued in the store: ‘Just be careful’

Where did you get your first pet?

For some, the answer is the pet store. Others adopt animals from a shelter.

This woman’s method for finding a pet is a little bit different. According to a recent series of viral videos, her new companion was discovered not at a shelter or pet shop, but on the ground at Walmart.  

What Did This Woman Find At Walmart?

Across several videos, TikTok user Ashley (@ashmamom) explains how a trip to Walmart ended with her discovering a new pet.

“You guys, I’m at Walmart right now and look at what I just found,” she says in her first video. She then shows her hand to the camera. Inside is a small mouse.

“It’s so cute!” she exclaims. “Now I’ve gotta go buy food for it, cause it’s gonna come home with me.”

What Happened Next?

Across several other videos, Ashley showed her journey with what she says is her new pet.

In her first follow-up, she shows the mouse in her bag, telling viewers that she went through self-checkout to avoid having Walmart employees attempt to take the mouse away.

A second follow-up shows the mouse in a shelter. The mouse has been named Wally.

“Right now he’s resting and conserving energy, which I read is normal,” she writes in the caption. “Once I’m confident he’s strong and stable, I have a larger tank ready so he’ll have more space to move around safely.”

A final update shows the mouse, which Ashley suspects is domesticated, crawling around her hand and “thriving.”

Is This Legal?

If this is a wild mouse, what Ashley has done here is illegal.

Like many states, Massachusetts has strict laws about what animals can be taken from the wild. To date, this list is composed entirely of reptiles and amphibians. 

While a variety of different types of mice are legal to own without a permit in the state of Massachusetts, it is not legal to take them from the wild and keep them as pets. In this case, “the wild” includes Walmart.

There are many reasons why a state may legislate this. To start, they may simply want to prevent people from disrupting natural ecosystems. They may also want to protect public health by preventing the unregulated capture and exchange of wild animals.

Why Is It A Bad Idea To Keep A Wild Mouse As A Pet?

If one wants a pet mouse, internet users advise against capturing a wild one, no matter the legality, unless one’s plan is to nurse it back to health and re-release it (though this may still be illegal unless one is a licensed wildlife rehabilitator).

On Reddit’s r/PetMice, “Why You Shouldn’t Keep Wild Mice as Pets” is a perennial topic. Across numerous threads, users have laid out the many reasons why one should not take a mouse out of the wild and keep it as a companion.

To start, wild mice can have a host of different diseases, some of which can be transferred to the owner if they are bitten. As wild mice are not used to human interaction, bites are fairly common.

Second, while a mouse may seem friendly, they can become easily stressed. Mice are known to get stressed for a variety of reasons, including changing environments and removal from their familiar social groups. Keeping them in a stressful environment can damage their quality of life and cause them to lash out.

Can You Even Keep Mice As Pets?

All of this doesn’t mean you shouldn’t have a mouse as a pet. Instead of wild mice, a curious pet owner may be interested in domesticated mice. These mammals lack many of the issues of wild mice and make good, intelligent, entertaining pets that can bring a lot of joy to one’s life.

If one is interested in pet mice, they can consider getting 3 or more domesticated female mice. For male mice, experts recommend desexing them before allowing them into a cage with other mice, as male mice can be aggressive and territorial.

But if you see a mouse running around the ground at Walmart, it’s best not try to bring it home.

@ashmamom How I got little Wally out of Walmart- #walmartfinds #walmart #foryoupage #petsoftiktok @Walmart #pet ♬ original sound – Ash MA Mom

Commenters Advise Caution

In the comments section, while users applauded Ashley’s enthusiasm—and shared her opinions about the cuteness of the animal—many suggested that she bring the mouse to a veterinarian due to possible health issues.

“Please get it to a vet if you can!!!!” exclaimed a user. “Thank you so much for choosing to love it instead of hate it! It’s such a precious little thing.”

“Please take him to a vet,” echoed another, attaching an image of a “grimace scale” for judging mouse pain. “His score on the mouse grimace scale for pain is not looking very good, and I think he’s feeling pretty unwell…”

“Veterinarian here and I can confirm that he/she has hydrocephalus,” stated a third, referring to the mouse’s large head. “It’s almost always fatal unfortunately. :( But you can certainly care for it for the time being! Hydration is critical. I always recommend moistened food in a crock in their cage. Thanks for helping this little guy/gal!”

The Mary Sue reached out to Ashley via TikTok direct message and comment, and Walmart via media relations contact form.

Have a tip we should know? [email protected]