When Northeast Florida residents spotted an animal trotting down the street, they definitely saw a horse of a different color.
According to reports, witnesses said the zebra was found running down a road after escaping the Cottonwood Ranch on Old Dixie Highway Wednesday afternoon in Callahan. It was being chases by several vehicles and was eventually cornered in a cul-de-sac about 2 miles from the ranch, News4Jax reported
"I had to stop and think a minute," Jenee Watkins told the station. "It's not every day you see a Zebra trotting through your neighborhood."
A neighbor wanted to snap a photo of the exotic animal, but its owner was apparently a little anxious.
"I tried to stop him to see if I could get a picture of the zebra and he was like, 'Look, man, I've got to go. They're probably fixing to arrest me,'" the neighbor said.
Once the zebra was cornered, the owner reportedly shot and killed his pet. Sheriff Bill Leeper, according to News4Jax, was told the zebra injured itself during its escape and the owner put it down with authorities at the scene. But witnesses reportedly said that animal did not seem injured and that the owner didn't want the animal to hurt anyone.
The owner reportedly did not have the proper documentation to own the zebra, named Shadow.
The state of Florida allows people to own zebras, but they must obtain a state permit. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Comission said, according to News4Jax, that the zebra's owner did not have such a permit. Leeper also said his department did not know the owner had the zebra.
The FWC did not say whether the owner would face charges and that the investigation is ongoing.
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