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Shawnee family looks for missing pet kangaroo

By The Associated Press | Published: November 24, 2012 Comment on this article

photo - An undated photo provided by the Menhusen family shows kangaroo Lucy Sparkles, center, with Layla Menhusen, left, and Indya Menhusen, right. The Menhusen family is searchng for their pet, Lucy Sparkles, which the family last saw on Thanksgiving, when Sheila Menhusen says she thinks the red kangaroo was freaked out by people gathered at their home near Shawnee, Okla., for the holiday. The family is offering a $500 reward. (AP Photo/The Menhusen family) Family provided us with photos. I emailed the mom, Shayla Menhusen, the formal email asking for permission. Haven't heard back yet. Jeannie Nuss Reporter The Associated Press Little Rock, Ark. ORG XMIT: NY118

An undated photo provided by the Menhusen family shows kangaroo Lucy Sparkles, center, with Layla Menhusen, left, and Indya Menhusen, right. The Menhusen family is searchng for their pet, Lucy Sparkles, which the family last saw on Thanksgiving, when Sheila Menhusen says she thinks the red kangaroo was freaked out by people gathered at their home near Shawnee, Okla., for the holiday. The family is offering a $500 reward. (AP Photo/The Menhusen family) Family provided us with photos. I emailed the mom, Shayla Menhusen, the formal email asking for permission. Haven't heard back yet. Jeannie Nuss Reporter The Associated Press Little Rock, Ark. ORG XMIT: NY118

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Article Gallery: Shawnee family looks for missing pet kangaroo

The family got Lucy in June after Menhusen's husband, Larry, expressed an interest in exotic animals. He talked about getting a wallaby, but decided against it. So he and their eldest daughter, Layla, drove to Texas to pick up the family's first pet: a 6-month-old kangaroo.

The name Lucy Sparkles was Layla's idea.

“She was so excited that she was getting a kangaroo,” Menhusen said.

Lucy lives in a little house outside the family's home.

“She comes to a whistle much like a dog would and she also comes to the call of her name,” Menhusen said. “And she comes to the mimic of the sound that a kangaroo makes, which none of us are very good at …”

The family is offering a $500 reward. Anyone with information can call Menhusen at 990-4867.

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