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Missing baby kangaroo captured in Monroe

The 8-month-old joey was taken to an animal hospital in Fall City. The incident calls in to question ownership of exotic animals in Washington state.

MONROE, Wash. — Tuesday began like most any day.

Brandi Blair's husband got up early and was headed to work around 5:30 a.m.

That's when things got weird.

He saw a kangaroo hopping through the streets of downtown Monroe.

"He thought it was a kangaroo, but then he thought, 'Why would there be a kangaroo in downtown Monroe?'" Brandi said. "He took a video and sent it to me. Sure enough, it was a kangaroo."

Facebook posts seeking the missing marsupial started circulating, and with that, the search for the wayward 8-month-old kangaroo was on.

Neighbors all over started forming search parties trying to track him down.

MacKenzie Acker and her kids went on a kangaroo hunt of their own.

"At that age they're just really vulnerable," she said. "They're still drinking milk. They need to be in some sort of pouch. For it to be out in different weather and around other animals it's pretty dangerous."

Finally, a neighbor spotted the animal hiding in her carport a few blocks away and contacted police.

"It looked scared, just lost," Annalisa Kariniemi said. "He was just sitting there in his little safe place."

Credit: KING

As animal control workers tried to coax the kangaroo into their care, a woman showed up claiming to be the kangaroo's owner.

She said she got him just yesterday from a kangaroo breeder in Arlington and named it Jack.

The woman said around 4 a.m. Jack started acting restless.

She thought he had to go to the bathroom but when a friend took it outside, Jack took off.

Credit: KING

Several neighbors expressed their disappointment over a kangaroo apparently being kept as a pet. 

According to Monroe Police, it is legal to have a pet kangaroo in Washington state, with the proper permit, but not in the city limits of Monroe.

"Several cities, including Monroe have ordinances against owing exotic animals, including kangaroos," Police Officer Bradey Pettit said.  

After about eight hours on the loose Jack was quietly captured, placed in a large pink pouch, and taken to an animal hospital in Fall City for treatment. 

High levels of stress can literally kill young kangaroos.

At last report, Jack's condition was not good.

Credit: KING

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