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Stray Dog Obsessed With Purple Unicorn Finds His Forever Home
It’s not unusual for dogs to have a favorite toy that brings them joy and comfort. These treasured items often serve as a source of security, especially in uncertain moments. But for stray dogs, life on the streets rarely allows for such luxuries. Their days are focused on survival, not playthings. That’s why one homeless dog’s determination to claim a stuffed purple unicorn as his own became such a remarkable story—one that captured national attention and ultimately changed his life.
The story began in Kenansville, North Carolina, when Duplin County Animal Control received an unusual call from a local Dollar General. A stray dog had been sneaking into the store repeatedly, and each time, he went directly to the same stuffed unicorn. On five different occasions, employees watched him ignore all other items and attempt to make off with the bright purple toy. Finally, unsure of what to do, they called animal services.
Animal Control Officer Samantha Lane was dispatched to the scene, and when she saw the dog’s unwavering focus on the unicorn, she couldn’t bring herself to deny him. Out of her own pocket, she purchased the $10 toy and handed it over. Immediately, the stray clung to it as if it were the most important thing in the world.
“He went straight for the unicorn, the same one every time,” recalled Joe Newburn, a supervisor at Duplin County Animal Services. “It was so strange, one of the strangest calls I’ve ever dealt with.”
With his new treasure in tow, the dog was taken to the shelter, where he continued to cuddle his unicorn constantly. Staff named him Sisu, after the dragon character from Disney’s Raya and the Last Dragon, who bears a unicorn-like horn and purple mane.
Sisu’s story quickly spread across social media, with thousands of people touched by his devotion to the toy. His adoption listing soon went viral, describing him as “sassy with other dogs and will not tolerate back talk, but very obedient with people. Knows sit, lay, heel—and loves unicorns from Dollar General.”
Given Sisu’s attachment, shelter staff suspected he might once have had a home, possibly with a similar toy. “If the store had called and said he tore open dog food, that would make more sense,” Newburn explained. “But not hunting for a purple unicorn.”
Thankfully, the story ended happily. Sisu was adopted into a loving home, and of course, he brought his unicorn with him—plus a few extras. Dollar General, delighted by their unexpected star customer, donated more unicorns for Sisu and provided supplies for the shelter, while also recognizing Officer Lane for her kindness.
Sisu’s journey from stray to beloved family pet shows the power of small acts of compassion. What began with a determined dog and a simple stuffed toy turned into a heartwarming rescue story, proving that sometimes love finds us in the unlikeliest of places—even in the toy aisle of a Dollar General.
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