It is common for dogs to have one favorite toy, the one item they become attached to over everything else. These toys can bring a lot of enjoyment and comfort to our pets.
Despite this, stray dogs often lack toys. So when one street dog fell in love with a stuffed unicorn, he knew he had to have it somehow.
An unusual shoplifting case was reported to Duplin County Animal Control last week from a Dollar General store in Kenansville, North Carolina.
There was a stray dog who kept sneaking into their store… stealing the same stuffed, purple unicorn toy over and over again.
This dog became so enamored with this particular toy that he repeatedly attempted to steal it before animal services were called.
According to Joe Newburn, supervisor at Duplin County Animal Services, “he always goes for the unicorn.”
“It was so strange, one of the strangest calls I’ve ever dealt with.”
But Samantha Lane, the officer who arrived on the scene to pick up the dog, had a heart. Seeing how much the unicorn meant to the stray, she paid the $10 of her own money to buy it for him.
Officers searched for the owner of the dog while the dog was held at animal services.
Although rewarding a shoplifter is not standard procedure, it was clear that the toy meant the world to the dog, who had nothing. At intake, the dog clung to his stuffed animal, now his.
It was no surprise to her colleagues that the officer acted in such a kindhearted manner.
“This is something she’s always done,” Newburn told WCTI 12. “This isn’t something new to her, it’s just a different dog, but yes, she’s always doing this stuff for the animals.”
After a character from the Disney movie Raya and the Last Dragon with a unicorn-like horn and purple mane, the officers named the dog Sisu.
The story of Sisu’s brush with shoplifting was shared by Duplin County Animal Services, which definitely helped his adoption post go viral.
Sisu’s adoption post describes her as “sassy with other dogs and won’t tolerate backtalk.” She also loves unicorns from Dollar General.
Sisu relied on his stuffed unicorn for comfort as he waited for someone to take him home.
Animal services officers suspected he may have had a home at one time, which is why he insisted on having the toy.
It makes no sense why he would hunt for a purple unicorn other than he had one at home,” Newburn told People. “If the store called and said he had tore open dog food, that would make more sense.”
No matter where he came from, Sisu now has a good home: animal services announced the dog had been adopted!
After his story went viral, Sisu finally got the happy ending he deserved. Of course, he’ll take his beloved unicorn with him… along with a few extras. Dollar General has announced that they will donate some more stuffed unicorns to his adoptive family in honor of their most famous customer.
As a thank you gift, they also donated pet food to Duplin County Animal Services.
We are paws-itively delighted that Sisu is enjoying his new toy!” Dollar General’s corporate office told WCTI 12. “We are also grateful to Animal Control Officer Lane for rescuing him.”
