FORT LAUDERDALE, FLA. (WSVN) - A kangaroo has been captured after it was spotted hopping around loose in a Fort Lauderdale neighborhood.

Fort Lauderdale Police officers responded to a call about the kangaroo in the area of North Andrews Avenue and 13th Street, just north of downtown, at approximately 9:30 a.m., Thursday.

Someone who spotted the animal said over the phone, “I’ve got a really weird thing to tell you: there’s a kangaroo jumping around on Andrews and 13th and 16th area. It’s the strangest thing I’ve ever seen in my life. Seriously, I know you think I’m crazy.”

Another caller said, “Let someone know there’s a kangaroo hopping around the street.”

A 911 operator responded, “What color is the kangaroo, ma’am?”

She said, “Regular kangaroo color, like tan.”

“At first we didn’t really believe it ’cause there was only one call, so when we got there, there, sure enough, was a kangaroo,” said Fort Lauderdale Police officer Robert Norvis. “I’ve been a police officer for a total of 26 years, and I’ve had snake calls and plenty of dog calls and maybe an alligator, but I never heard of a kangaroo around here.”

Cellphone video taken by witnesses showed the kangaroo loose, hopping in the middle of the street.

“I’m like, ‘No way! This cannot be,’ and he started literally hopping all over the main street,” witness Flor Vargas said.

Officers were able to get a dog leash around the kangaroo’s neck before guiding it to the back of a police cruiser.

“We just tried to corral it and keep it out of traffic,” Norvis said. “We tried to make a plan and then we were able to come together and get him kind of surrounded. Once we had him kind of closed in — he’s very friendly — we were able to get a rope around his neck and get him into the back of the car.”

7SkyForce HD hovered over the scene where the kangaroo could be seen in the back of the police cruiser.

“He didn’t resist. I actually was expecting to get kicked, but he was very friendly and didn’t do anything,” Norvis said.

No injuries were reported.

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission officers will investigate.

7News has learned the kangaroo is a resident’s pet, goes by the name of Jack and lives with his dog buddy Max.

It is not legal to own a kangaroo as a pet in the city, so the owner could face charges.
The owner has gotten a ticket and will have to go to court to see if he could get the kangaroo back.
He declined to comment on the incident to a 7News crew, Thursday afternoon.
Officers brought Jack to a barn at the Fort Lauderdale Police Department where police horses are normally kept.
State Sen. Jason Pizzo (D., North Miami-Dade) said, “Jack’s not going to be euthanized. Jack is in Southwest Ranches in Broward County. He’s safe, and he’s healthy.”
As bizarre as a kangaroo hopping loose around Fort Lauderdale seems, it’s something for Officer Norvis to smile about.
“I love animals, so this, of course, is always a nice break from everything else that goes on,” he said.
FWC officials said Jack was later moved to an undisclosed location. They said the 3-foot-tall marsupial is being cared for by veterinarians and wildlife experts.
FWC recently came under fire after a coyote saved from drowning by Miami-Dade firefighters was put down while in FWC’s care in February. An Inspector General’s report blamed miscommunication for the animal’s death, but Pizzo said the kangaroo will have a happier ending.
Pizzo said, “There’s a paper trail. I think it’ll get the appropriate attention. I have faith in Jack’s future.”
Jack’s owner said he spoke to a newspaper about the chase and told them he thinks he may have left the side gate at his home open, which led to the kangaroo’s escape.
He said he is going to try to get his pet back.

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