July 20 (UPI) — Police in the Netherlands responded to an unusual report of an animal on the loose and wound up wrangling an escaped wallaby.
The North Holland Police Unit said officers responded Sunday to Middenmeer, where a resident reported a “kangaroo” wandering near some soccer fields.
“You expect a lot during a police shift… but a report of a kangaroo on the loose in Middenmeer wasn’t on our list,” police wrote on social media.
The animal, which turned out to be a wallaby, was observed hopping through a busy road.
The wallaby led authorities on a chase through the city before a veterinarian was able to sedate it for safe capture.
The marsupial’s owner arrived on the scene and explained the pet, named Skippy, had escaped the previous night.
Skippy was safely returned home.
A law that took effect on July 1, 2024, in the Netherlands prohibits the buying and selling of pet wallabies, but animals owned before the law took effect are allowed to remain with their owners for the rest of their lifespans.
