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Wayward Missouri wallaby captured

You can’t argue that on Thanksgiving, the turkey is king, but it’s another animal that got people in Platte City, Missouri talking: a wallaby.
Wallaby

PLATTECITY, Mo. -- You can t argue that on Thanksgiving, the turkey is king, but it s another animal that got people in Missouri talking: a wallaby.

Took me away from Black Friday ads and that says a lot, said Kelly Mand.

People in Platte City are used to seeing wildlife, but not the native New Zealander.

This is really news in a small town like this, said Gina Carr.

Once the shock wore off, folks started to wonder where it came from.

It turns out he only traveled a couple of miles.

Four-year-old Noah belongs to the Wood family.

They were feeding him Thanksgiving morning.

My brother had barely opened the door and he just darted out, said 16-year-old Emily Wood.

He ran into the woods and was later spotted hopping through a yard around 9:30.

The family started their search, and so did police.

This is the first time in 28 years of law enforcement that I've ever confronted a loose wallaby, said Platte City police officer Michael Reilly.

Noah bounced into a fenced-in area at the Hillview Nursing Home.

An employee spotted him and shut the gate.

Word spread fast.

The kids were in the shower and I yelled at them to get out of the shower, said Kelly Mand.

I don't know. I was really freaked out 'cause I didn't know if it would get out or something, said Kelly's son, Andrew.

Noah never broke out and even if he did, his owner says he s a lover, not a fighter.

He likes to lick people. He'll give you hugs even, said Wood.

Finally, the Kansas City Zoo came in to give Noah a temporary home while his legalities are worked out.

Officials said wallabies are legal to own in Missouri, but Platte City has an exotic animal ordinance, which Noah falls under.

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