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Have You Seen Ollie? Pet Kangaroo on the Loose After Escaping Mt. Pleasant Home

Issue #842

October 22, 2026

In this What’s Up Columbia issue…

☀️ Columbia’s Thursday Weather - Sunny w/ high of 76, low of 43

🦘 Have You Seen Ollie? Pet Kangaroo on the Loose After Escaping Mt. Pleasant Home

🐘 10/28: Donate Your Tree Trimmings To The Elephant Sanctuary

🗓 List of Upcoming Events

🎵 This Week’s Live Music

🗓 Know of Some Local Events Not Listed? Send us the Details!

Have You Seen Ollie? Pet Kangaroo on the Loose After Escaping Mt. Pleasant Home

A young pet kangaroo named Ollie is missing in Maury County, and his family is asking residents to keep an eye out.

Ollie got away from his Mt. Pleasant home on Tuesday while being taken on his usual walk on a leash. He was last seen near Mack Benderman Road wearing a purple harness and leash.

Since then, Ollie has reportedly been spotted in the Columbia area. Kangaroos can cover a lot of ground quickly, so he may not be anywhere near where he was last seen. A neighbor who helps out on the property said he could have made it into Marshall County by now.

Ollie is about 14 months old and had moved in with his family only within the past month. They had been helping him settle in by walking him around the property and getting him used to the dozen or so other animals on the farm.

He’s described as friendly but timid, and he isn’t likely to approach people. His family says he is not mean or dangerous, and if you’re able to get close enough, it’s OK to grab his leash. Otherwise, keep track of where he’s headed and contact animal control. The Maury County Sheriff’s Office has also been notified.

In Tennessee, kangaroos are classified as Class 3 exotic animals, meaning owners don’t need a wildlife permit to keep one. A kangaroo isn’t equipped to fend for itself in this part of the country, though, which is why his family wants to find him as soon as possible.

Many people will remember June 2025, when Ed the Zebra spent eight days on the loose in Rutherford County. Here’s hoping Ollie makes it home a lot sooner than that.

10/28: Donate Your Tree Trimmings To The Elephant Sanctuary

Have extra tree trimmings? The Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee is reaching out to our Middle Tennessee community for donated trees, branches, and trimmings as browse and enrichment for our elephant residents!

During the cooler months, when the elephants tend to stay closer to their heated barns, it’s essential to provide a variety of browse and enrichment. This not only offers necessary nutrients but also promotes mental stimulation through exploration. Browse typically includes leaves, branches, and other vegetation that elephants naturally consume, while enrichment consists of items that engage their minds and encourage physical activity. A diverse selection of browse greatly enhances the elephants' overall well-being by fostering natural behaviors such as stripping leaves and chewing on branches.

Please ensure items are cut within the last two weeks, and as fresh as possible. We ask that all items remain free from pesticides. Only limbs and small logs are accepted—no stumps or thick tree trunks. For a list of approved browse types, visit elephants.com/browse.

Browse donations can be brought to The Sanctuary’s Elephant Discovery Center, located at 27 East Main Street, Hohenwald, where a designated drop-off location will be available behind the building next to the 're-tired' elephant statue. Donors are invited to visit the exhibits inside the Elephant Discovery Center, which is open every Tuesday through Saturday from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM.

For large or heavy delivery arrangements, please contact Kristy, Browse Coordinator, at [email protected].

The elephant habitats are closed to the public. Visitors to The Discovery Center will not see or interact with the elephants.

Your fall escape awaits

Mountain air, city lights or somewhere new? There's still time to make your fall plans take flight with Alaska Airlines. See the fall foliage in Boston, sip cider in Seattle, or swap your flannel for a swimsuit and head to Hawai'i.

Subject to availability. Terms and conditions apply.

Upcoming Local Events

🗓 Have an event to add? Send us the Details!

Thursday, October 22nd

Friday, October 23rd

Saturday, October 24th

Sunday, October 25th

👇 Click the Links to Learn About our Local Business Sponsors! 👇

🎵 This Week’s Live Music

Thursday, October 22
Todd Ciprian - Tito’s, 6-9 PM
Ella Fitzgerald: First Lady of Song - CSCC Cherry Theater, 7 PM
Troy Castellano - Whiskey Alley Saloon, 7:30-9 PM

Friday, October 23
Pat Wiley Russel - Buck & Board, 6-8 PM
Stevierock - Acapulco Mexican Grill, 6:30-8:30 PM
Open Mic - Grinder’s Switch Winery, 7-9 PM
Michael Forkuo - Whiskey Alley Saloon, 7:30-9 PM
Ben Owens - Puckett’s, 7:30-9 PM
Vintage Voltage - Fozzy’s Bar & Grill, 8-11 PM

Saturday, October 24
Crossbridges - Amber Falls Winery & Cellars, 3-7 PM
Shannon McCue & The Harpeth River Boys - McCreary’s Irish Pub & Eatery, 7-9 PM
Open Mic - Grinder’s Switch Winery, 7-9 PM
The Hollybells + Rusty Shipp + Colonsay - 104 East 6th St, 7:30 PM
Curated Writers Round - The Bourbon Gospel, 7:30 PM
Dylan Cornell - The Rebel Bar & Grill, 7:30 PM
Righteous Intonation - Puckett’s, 7:30-9 PM
Whiskey River Band - The Boondox, 8 PM

Sunday, October 25
Small Town Sweethearts - Amber Falls Winery & Cellars, 1-5 PM
A Night of Worship - The Mulehouse, 6:30 PM

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