Rescue
Cops get call about stray dog repeatedly running into store to steal stuffed animal & lock him up
Every time a customer left the store the stray dog would dart inside and make his way straight for the purple unicorn. When cops got the call about the stray they recall, it was "one of the strangest calls I've ever dealt with."
Laura Shallcross
03.30.21

Though animals aren’t capable of speech, it’s pretty obvious when they’re trying to communicate something to us.

Take one stray dog in North Carolina. The pup repeatedly paid visits to his local Kenansville Dollar General store – and he’d always head straight for the toy aisle.

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Source:
Unsplash

Toys are a thing of comfort for children and animals, so it’s possible that the sight of the toy aisle helped to make him feel safe and calm.

But according to staff, the stray dog would always head for the same toy: a stuffed unicorn.

Posted by Duplin County Animal Services onFriday, March 26, 2021

Joe Newburn, a supervisor at Duplin County Animal Services, recalled the moment he was called to collect the dog from the store in an interview with PEOPLE, calling it “one of the strangest calls I’ve ever dealt with.”

Apparently, every time a customer left the store, the Lab mix would dart inside and head straight for the purple unicorn toy. Finally, they had to lock the door and call in the experts.

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Source:
Unsplsh

Samantha Lane, the animal services respondent who came to collect the stray, didn’t hesitate to purchase the unicorn toy after hearing of the dog’s obsession with the item.

As soon as he had his beloved stuffed animal, the stray was happy to be led away from the store.

The canine was taken to the Duplin County Animal Services shelter and given a name: Sisu, inspired by the dragon character in the latest Disney movie, “Raya and the Last Dragon”.

Sisu

Posted by Duplin County Animal Services onThursday, March 25, 2021

Not long after Sisu had settled into her temporary home, the shelter shared a photo of the pup and his toy unicorn on their Facebook page, alongside 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.”

Duplin County Animal Services
Source:
Duplin County Animal Services

No one came forward to claim Sisu, which staff at the shelter found particularly strange.

Joe, the shelter’s supervisor, said:

“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.”

Posted by Duplin County Animal Services onFriday, March 26, 2021

As for why Sisu was so interested in the stuffed toy, that will likely forever remain a mystery. Joe, who had mulled over the situation himself, said that he thought the pup must have had the same toy at home, adding:

“If the store had called and said he tore open dog food, that would make more sense – but not hunting for a purple unicorn.”

Posted by Duplin County Animal Services on Friday, March 26, 2021

Not long after Sisu’s story blew up online, the shelter began to receive numerous requests from people hoping to give the pop a furever home.

And now the time has come – Sisu has officially been paired with a suitable adopter! Aww, we love it when a story ends happily.

We may never know who Sisu is, where he came from, and why he was so obsessed with the Dollar General unicorn.

Posted by Duplin County Animal Services onFriday, March 26, 2021

What’s for certain, though, is that he has a happy life ahead of him. Apparently, the Dollar General plans to send a “few extra purple unicorns for the adoptive family,” so Sisu should be set for life!

You can check out the full adorable photoshoot of Sisu and his unicorn friend here.

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