Wandering wallaby Waldo is found dead

Updated: October 29, 2009 - 8:23 AM

The Savage family's pet, missing for weeks, likely died of liver failure, his owner says. "At least we have closure."

Waldo

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Waldo, the missing wallaby from Savage, is gone.

Denell Lund said the family's 3 1/2-year-old pet wallaby was found dead Wednesday after being missing for the past month.

Neighbors and others in the community reported numerous sightings during the first couple weeks after Waldo's escape from his back-yard pen, she said. After that, no one reported seeing the timid wallaby for 12 days until Tuesday.

A little girl in the neighborhood was looking out her window when she told her mom that she saw a kangaroo.

Lund raced to the home and tried to coax the elusive wallaby closer. "He seemed to be moving slower and looked like he had lost weight since the last time I saw him," she said. "Then he hopped away."

On Wednesday the little girl's grandfather was walking near the woods and field where Waldo had been spotted and found Waldo's body in tall grass.

The family's vet said Waldo had jaundice, which most likely led to liver failure, Lund said.

"I feel horrible," she said. "We always knew that this was a possible outcome. It's like losing a family member. But we know we tried. At least we have closure."

MARY LYNN SMITH