What happens when a bird bought to guard a backyard flock becomes a full-blown local celebrity?

This week, Carly sits down with Billy-Sue Mitchell and her six-foot emu, Dennis, at their charming Colorado Springs home, surrounded by ducks, two chickens, and two dogs.

Billy shares how Dennis went from a duck-harness-wearing baby to a leash-walking icon spotted everywhere from Garden of the Gods to Manitou Springs, Old Colorado City, and beyond. Along the way, we get the heart-stopping story of the time Dennis went missing for 24 hours (and the German Shepherd who tracked him down), the truth about the Great Emu War of 1932, and why male emus make such gentle, devoted companions.

Most movingly, Billy opens up about how Dennis helped pull her through a deep depression after losing her brother, and how sharing his joy with strangers became its own kind of healing.

In this episode:

Why Billy originally got an emu (hint: foxes)
How public walks and a chance reporter photo made Dennis famous
The 24-hour disappearance and dramatic rescue
Dennis the dog: fetch with sticks, elevators, and bathroom stalls
Male vs. female emus, and why dads do all the parenting
Emu FAQs, therapy-animal questions and Dennis's empathy for crying kids
How Dennis changed Billy's life after loss

Catch Dennis in person! Our picks of the week:

Donkey Derby Days (Cripple Creek)
Monument's Fourth of July Parade
Green Mountain Falls' Bronc Day Festival

A sweet, surprising, genuinely moving conversation about animals, community, and the unexpected things that heal us.

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