Photo Credit: Shannon Johnstone & Duplin County Animal Services
It could be the title of a children's book, Sisu & The Unicorn.
Sisu really wanted a unicorn.
I mean really, REALLY wanted a unicorn.
When animal control officers were called to a North Carolina Dollar General store, they had no idea what they were in for.
Workers say that had to keep escourting a thief from the premises. A stray dog that kept coming into the store and head, not the dog food or treat aisle, but the toy aisle. And the stray wasn't there for just any toy....he was there for a SPECIFIC toy....a giant stuffed purple unicorn.
Joe Newburn, a Duplin County Animal Services Supervisor told People Magazine:
"It was so strange, one of the strangest calls I've ever dealt with."
Samantha Lane was the officer who responded to the call and she was so touched by the dog's devotion to the toy that she paid $10 of her own money to purchase it. Once in hand, the dog was happy to follow her anywhere!
The dog was taken to Duplin County Animal Services and workers there named him 'Sisu' after the dragon character in Disney's new film, Raya and the Last Dragon.
The shelter posted Sisu's story and photos on their Facebook page, with the caption:
"This is what happens when you break into the Dollar General consistently to steal the purple unicorn that you laid claim to but then get animal control called to lock you up for your B & E and larceny but the officer purchases your item for you and brings it in with you."
They were hoping that Sisu had a family and that they'd come foward to get him. But no luck.
Newburn said there's really no explanation as to why Sisu was taken with this specific toy, the only thing they could come up with is because he was so well-behaved that at one time he did have a home and maybe in that home he had a similar looking stuffed animal:
"It's so sweet, It's amazing. I mean, he's obviously super smart, and even when we got him to the animal shelter, he's been very obedient. He sits, shakes. Someone should be looking for him. I don't know of any other reason why he would focus on the unicorn other than he had one at home. If the store had called and said he tore open dog food, that would make more sense but not hunting for a purple unicorn."
The shelter said they got a ton of requests about Sisu and people wanting to adopt and as luck would have it, he has found a forever family. So, he and his unicorn have left the facility!
Sisu is not the only one that needs a forever home....let's help support their effort to find 'fur'ever homes for more... Follow Duplin County Animal Services on Facebook.