Woman with 'service' kangaroo named Jimmy asked to leave McDonald's
A Wisconsin woman who brought a kangaroo into a McDonald's says she left the store voluntarily after a customer called police to complain.
Beaver Dam Police say they responded to an anonymous call about the woman, Diana Moyer, who brought a kangaroo, Jimmy, into the fast-food restaurant.
When police arrived, Moyer had the baby kangaroo wrapped in a blanket and tucked into a child's car seat, the Associated Press reported. Moyer told the responding officer that the kangaroo was a service animal to help her cope with emotional distress and produced a letter from a doctor.
"We are aware a customer called the authorities regarding this incident, who then investigated and took the steps to resolve the situation," McDonald's said in a statement. "Our policy is to make our restaurants accessible to all customers, including those with disabilities and special needs."
Her husband, Larry, told WISN-TV that Jimmy isn't technically a service animal for his wife but simply a therapy pet as she battles cancer.
“It's a friend for her, a companion,” Larry Moyer said. "And we have a little car seat and stroller."
The couple own and keep five kangaroos at their home just outside of town, and they often take Jimmy with them on errands.
“He's just a little guy, but you can touch him and pet him,” Larry Moyer said. “Of course it does cause a lot of attention because you don't see a kangaroo every day, especially one out of the cage."
There were no arrests or tickets issued.
“While it’s an unusual call, [it was] certainly handled in an appropriate manner going in and ultimately getting what we'd like to get — voluntary compliance," Beaver Dam Police Detective Ryan Klavekoske told WISN.
Local officials say this isn't the first time they've fielded complaints about the couple and their exotic pets, but since the kangaroos live outside of the city and don't pose a threat, they aren't seen as a problem.
According to the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection, there are no specific laws against having exotic pets, other than the requirement to have a certificate of veterinary inspection for those imported from outside the state.
