By Emalyn Muzzy
Source The Sun News (Myrtle Beach, S.C.)
From monkeys to emus, exotic pets on the loose aren’t new to South Carolina.
This time it’s a kangaroo.
On Saturday, Horry County Police reported returning a kangaroo to its home, according to a Facebook post from the agency. The marsupial was roaming around the Horry County fourth precinct, which covers the Socastee area, according to a 2016 map.
The owner posted on Facebook a video that talked about how the kangaroo got loose. It was the goat who unlatched the gate, allowing the ‘Roo to bounce free. Lindsey Richardson shared that she had to go out in her silk, pink pajama pants to wrestle the animal back home.
The Sun News has requested the police report from the incident but did not receive it before publication.
South Carolina has made national headlines for its animal escapees, from the 43 monkeys in Beaufort County to the two emus who roamed rural Horry County. There were also reports of an escaped monkey in North Myrtle Beach last fall, although police never located a primate.
The Palmetto State has less stringent exotic pet laws, compared to other places around the country, allowing for interesting pets. Within Horry County, there’s a group of monkey owners, The Sun News previously reported.
South Carolina law prohibits purchasing or possessing large wild cats, non-native bears and great apes — though there are exceptions for certain nonprofit organizations, enforcement agencies, veterinary facilities, research facilities, circuses and agricultural license holders, The Sun News reported.
It’s illegal to sell carnivores who are not normally domesticated but not illegal to own one. There are also a number of endangered species and reptiles that are prohibited without a permit.
Often times exotic pets are ruled by municipal laws.
One of the emus running loose in the Loris area may be dead. The owner Sam Morace said multiple people told her they heard someone shoot the bird. Nate Jenkins
“There is definitely a patchwork at the state level and then again at the county and municipal level, there’s a number of other ordinances specific to those municipalities and counties that might prohibit specific animals in those jurisdictions,” Will Dillman, the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources assistant chief of wildlife, told The Sun News in September.
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