Wallaroo Rescued after Two-Hour Chase!

Wally the wallaroo had quite a day recently. The wallaroo got away from his owner in LaSalle County, about 95 miles southwest of Chicago, per the Associated Press.

Fighterfighters, volunteer rescuers, and police all worked together for two hours in pursuit of the wallaroo. Larger than wallabies but smaller than Kangaroos, Wally the Wallaroo was elusive.

Source: WQAD News 8/Youtube

Police in Peru, Illinois worked hard to rescue Wally. Peru Police Chief Doug Bernabei closed roads to protect Wally and. Bernabei told WLS-TV, “I had to hold back the owner of Wally because he wanted to enter the Illinois River and that would have been tragic.”

Once Wally got into the river, two anglers were able to capture him in their nets. Wally then got warmed up and treated by a local veterinarian.

Bernabei said the day of the rescue was “probably the best day of the year, so far. It was a neat thing to get him out of the river and get him to a warm place and get him treated.”

Source: ABC 7 Chicago/Youtube

After the rescue, Wally’s owner told local news station WAND, “I’m so grateful for Peru law enforcement who aided in his rescue. The two fisherman that were able to save him from the river … and finally a big thank you to Bridgeview Veterinary Hospital! I truly am thankful for each and every person who took part in bringing him home safely. It means the world.”

Keeping wild animals as pets is not only harmful to the animals themselves, but also the people who come in contact with them. Their stress response to the situation may be to lash out and harm someone. These animals also may carry zoonotic diseases.

Sign this petition to demand that each and every U.S. state ban kangaroo ownership.

Related Content:

• Here’s Why Exotic Animals Belong in the Wild, Not as ‘Pets’ in Our Backyards
• The Myth of Domestication: Why Exotic Animals Can Never Really be ‘Pets’
• ‘Trend’ Pets Lead to Widespread Neglect – Why Exotic Animals Are Never in Style
• Sugar Gliders are Adorable, But They Don’t Belong in Your Pocket!
• The Real Cost of Buying a Big Cat
• 5 Reasons Why Primates Should Never Be Kept As Pets
• Tiger King: The Story Netflix Neglected to Tell You About Captivity and Exploitation of Endangered Tigers

For more Animal, Earth, Life, Vegan Food, Health, and Recipe content published daily, subscribe to the One Green Planet Newsletter! Also, don’t forget to download the Food Monster App on iTunes — with over 15,000 delicious recipes it is the largest meatless, vegan and allergy-friendly recipe resource to help reduce your environmental footprint, save animals and get healthy! Lastly, being publicly-funded gives us a greater chance to continue providing you with high-quality content. Please consider supporting us by donating!