Emu
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Plop-plop was raised right, as a beloved pet emu in a good home. But a hard storm and a low fence tossed her into the mean world, where she was lead astray, fought the law, and, well, we all know how that ends.

Sheriff's deputies and animal control officers spent a few days responding to sightings of the bird. Plop-plop even was reported chasing cars along U.S. 231. But on Monday, the bird found itself stuck in a pasture with the law close behind.

Bay County Sheriff Deputies Randolph Grob and Derrick Groves responded to a call from a man claiming an "unknown emu" was in the pen with his horses and goats, according to the incident report.

"We walked up kind of sort of close to it - within about 8 or 9 feet. Up to that point, it seemed excited but not really agitated," Grob said.

The deputies did not quite know what to expect from the bird, but they closed in, hoping she would surrender peacefully.

"At that point, the thing went kind of crazy," Grob said.

If the deputies came too close, the bird either would charge toward them or plow into the fence. The deputies were concerned about the bird hurting herself, but also concerned about the sharp talons on the end of flailing long legs.

"We had heard stories of these things, because they are such a powerful bird, such a big bird, with big claws and stuff, could possible hurt us. So, we were a little concerned about that," Grob said.

The deputies opted for a technological solution: Grob used his Taser to try to subdue the animal.

"I think we had exhausted the fact that we weren't going to be able to just corral it up on our own without harming it," he said. "I guess the point was made, 'Well, what do we have other than shooting it with an actual gun to get rid of it?'"

But Plop-plop didn't go down with one hit. While the detectives were attempting to hobble the bird, she decided to make one last desperate dash, and the deputies gave the emu another jolt, according to the incident report.

After her brief spell of delinquency, Plop-plop warmed to her new surroundings and her temporary caregivers after about a day, Animal Control Officer Debbie Evernham said. They determined she must be someone's pet and consulted the Internet to find out what an emu's diet consists of. Soon, the bird was competing with puppies for head scratchings and attention.

Plop-plop's owner, Roger Smith, contacted the shelter Wednesday morning and was permitted a visit to the secure ward, Evernham said. Smith, who owns The County Press, is upping emu-related security to prevent any future jail breaks and should be able to post bail by Monday.

"She's a bit of a character," Smith said.

"My wife and I went to visit her in doggy jail this morning," he said. "We were very pleased they're taking very good care of her."

Grob said responding to an emu complaint was one of the "stranger calls" he ever has taken, even for working in rural Bay County, and it was a bit of amusement in an otherwise glum week for police work.

He also expects a good amount of leg-pulling for the incident.

"I heard there is already a shrine to me up on the bulletin board," he said. "It's things like this that you can say, 'Wow, something funny and fun can happen.'"