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chaosglory626 t1_izgpybf wrote

This girl is going to steal a baby rhino from the zoo and get away with it.

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YukariYakum0 t1_izh1cxy wrote

Well now I want a baby rhino too.

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WarriorSnek t1_izj3lc5 wrote

Iiiiiiiiiiiii WANT A HIPPOPOTAMUS FOR CHRISTMAS

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stray1ight t1_izjs6kn wrote

I want a giant grey guy / about six feet high ...

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jabba-du-hutt t1_izhtjsc wrote

I was gonna suggest someone get her a one horned baby goat. :)

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turriferous t1_izjeb2y wrote

The bad news? HOA said unicorns are only allowed if they are beige and under 3 foot at the shoulder.

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AmethystOrator OP t1_izgjris wrote

> Rules are rules. Animal control officials in Southern California have granted permission for a little girl to keep a unicorn at home, provided she follows strict guidelines.

> Los Angeles County Animal Care and Control this week shared a letter it received from a child named Madeline.

> The girl wrote: “Dear LA County, I would like your approval if I can have a unicorn in my backyard if I can find one. Please send me a letter in response.”

> Director Marcia Mayeda replied with a letter along with a pre-approved unicorn license, a heart-shape license tag and a plush toy unicorn — until Madeline finds a real one. Photos of the license and Madeline’s letter were posted to the agency’s social media.

> The licensing letter included five conditions:

> 1. The unicorn must be cared for in compliance with all animal caretaking regulations set forth in Los Angeles county Code Title 10.

> 2. The unicorn is given regular access to sunlight, moonbeams and rainbows.

> 3. The unicorn is fed one of its favorite treats — watermelon — at least once each week.

> 4. The unicorn’s horn must be maintained to be in good health. This requires polishing at least once a month with a soft cloth.

> 5. Any sparkles or glitter used on the unicorn must be nontoxic and biodegradable to ensure the unicorn’s good health.”

> Mayeda commended Madeline for her “sense of responsible pet ownership.”

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janlaureys9 t1_izgjzns wrote

Feels like a PR stunt but it’s pretty adorable none the less.

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Slevinkellevra710 t1_izgpsq4 wrote

Are you suggesting that unicorns don't exist? How dare you!

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iiiBansheeiii t1_izic3l3 wrote

I think the implication is that Madeline doesn't exist. But I could be wrong.

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3rdeyeopenwide t1_izijz64 wrote

Wow I didn’t expect a turn down that avenue of thought. I think it’s real. Public servants could be criticized for being poor stewards of tax dollars by making a unicorn license but they’ll be told to lighten up. If they concocted the entire girl and letter just to publicize their reply, it becomes scandalous.

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masterpierround t1_izj3jkv wrote

There’s no way Madeline doesn’t exist. That would be way too risky. Most likely they get this type of letter a lot, and choose to publicize their response for a bit of good PR. More cynically, Madeline might have had a bit of help from her parents in crafting the letter.

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SkyezOpen t1_izkcef7 wrote

>More cynically, Madeline might have had a bit of help from her parents in crafting the letter.

Could've been a lesson in reaching out to government officials. If Madeline has a question or concern in the future, she already knows to contact someone.

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BaconSquared t1_izi0fcq wrote

I'm down for true feel good no negatives pr

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BackwardPalindrome t1_izigoue wrote

The idea that there's something wrong with doing a sweet, good thing because it gives a company or government good publicity sucks. I understand many governments whitewash, but I just wanna feel uplifted every now and then.

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Aether_Breeze t1_izj4nfk wrote

I mean they 100% knew it would be good PR for them, but the little girl doesn't know or care about that and it will no doubt have made her day/week/year.

Same way many people give to charity in order to make themselves feel good...but as long as that money is helping people what does it matter.

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Asymptote_X t1_izjsef2 wrote

>Feels like a PR stunt

Lol what else would it be?

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hexiron t1_izkwpwh wrote

A genuinely nice act. Animal Control and Department of Fish and Wildlife are generally really kind people that care about their jobs, not politics like other government departments.

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Erinalope t1_izk15f2 wrote

“California” “RAINbow”, wow way to set this girl up for failure. Only thing rarer in Cali than a unicorn. \s

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doihaveto9 t1_izj8kau wrote

What's a moonbeam?

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Rick_the_Rose t1_izkmry2 wrote

A silvery beam of pale light shines down in a 5-foot radius, 40-foot-high Cylinder centered on a point within range. Until the spell ends, dim light fills the Cylinder.

When a creature enters the spell's area for the first time on a turn or starts its turn there, it is engulfed in ghostly flames that cause searing pain, and it must make a Constitution saving throw. It takes 2d10 radiant damage on a failed save, or half as much damage on a successful one.

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DancingYetiCrab t1_izjwwt8 wrote

Animal control doesn't get to determine what animals are allowed in CA. That falls to the CA Department of Fish and Wildlife. A cute story nonetheless. Good job LA animal control.

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Todd-The-Wraith t1_izkerab wrote

Let’s wait and see if CA DFW sends a cease and desist letter to animal control and a letter explaining to the child why her license is null and void.

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shogi_x t1_izgs8ou wrote

Plot twist: the little girl becomes a biologist and genetically engineers a unicorn.

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ZSpectre t1_izgwpo8 wrote

I remembered that once I learned about HOX genes in undergrad biology (genes that more or less determine where an appendage would be located), I wondered how feasible it would be to splice a narwhal's tooth genes onto a horse's forehead. If it would ever get that far, I could imagine there being a need for some trial and error to make sure the tooth/horn wouldn't get too big for the horse's neck to support the extra weight.

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iLikeCatsOnPillows t1_izhwkba wrote

Probably easiest to just start with a cow though, stronger necks and already have horns.

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EmilyU1F984 t1_izhyjpr wrote

Hox genes determine head to tail positioning of appendages, they are not responsible for front to back positioning in bilateral animals (us).

In short: taking an insect as an example: they determine which segments get which appendages (antennae legs pincers) but they don‘t determine where in that segment the appendage appear Rotationally.

Additionally why not just use Rhino horn genes on horses? Doesn‘t say unicorns have tooth based horns.

Also: the narwhal ‚horns‘ (horns actually) are just their canines turned to the front. Usually just one grows outside their head, but two happens as well.

To transpose just canines… from within the box that make up the whole mandibular structure… seems like it would be harder than just creating new life at this point.

Oh btw the Saola, is a deer with a single horn, that is most similar to how unicorns are portrayed in contemporary art.

Just grab one of those for your research.

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quipcow t1_izid413 wrote

Never heard of a Saola before, but I just looked them up and they appear to have two horn's.

Not the best unicorn replacement IMHO

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Molehunter2022 t1_izkp2h6 wrote

When I was working on my Masters we used HOX genes to make feathers grow out of a mouse’s eyeball. So yeah…

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djdefenda t1_izhyksa wrote

Are CRISPR kits still legally available on Amazon for like $70?

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Vakr_Skye t1_izgrnih wrote

Scotland's National Animal

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pizzacatstattoos t1_izgvw0g wrote

They're Rampant you might say! i'll show myself out...

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Adorable-Ad-3223 t1_izhz7aa wrote

... Reddit didnt have enough heraldry and vexillology jokes. Now it has 1 and it feels overburdened with them. Well done.

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id2d t1_izgykif wrote

Which shows why these officials are fools!!!

It's not the national animal for sweet reasons.

They wanted an animal that was known to be so dangerous it would f*** up a lion - the national animal of England.

In ye-olde times they didn't think the Unicorn horn was for fun. Basically it was to murder everyone and thing it came across.

https://www.wired.com/2015/02/fantastically-wrong-unicorn/

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Primordial_Snake t1_iziick5 wrote

Once again modern storytelling misses the point and ignores the brutality of Ancien tales

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Green-Cat t1_izl2l73 wrote

"The lion and the unicorn
Fought about the crown.
The lion beat the unicorn
All around the town."

Children's songs are brutal.

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WarmAppleCobbler t1_izhagbz wrote

> Its five conditions for unicorn ownership also require that any sparkles or glitter sprinkled on the animal be nontoxic and biodegradable, and that it be fed watermelon at least once a week.

Ok so someone on that board REAAAAAALLY likes watermelons

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sunflowerastronaut t1_izhxm25 wrote

> a girl named Madeline, with a vivid imagination and remarkable awareness of how bureaucracy can dash dreams,

Lol

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AsyncUhhWait t1_izid41g wrote

These fuckers are gonna ruin my fun before I even get to have any. Gonna need that in writing Big Brother!

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Shawna_Love t1_izhfsud wrote

Is everybody ready for unicorns? Because this is how you get Unicorns.

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punchheribthetit t1_izibjx4 wrote

Has no one in this sub ever met a little girl? This is how it went down.

Little girl: “Mommy, can I have a unicorn?”

Mommy: “Hahaha, oh sweety, of course you can, if you can find one.”

Indulgently grinning Daddy: “Better ask the local government. They’re sticklers for that sort of thing.”

Little girl: “Thank you, mommy. Thank you, daddy. BT dubs, stay outta the garage until I hear back from Animal Control.”

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JennLynnC80 t1_izgu6wb wrote

We have a leprechaun running around Crichton Alabama if she wants to get her one 😉😆

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AlberGaming t1_izhzuwn wrote

It's all fun and games until she actually discovers one

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[deleted] t1_izhhm0f wrote

[deleted]

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Free_Deinonychus_Hug t1_izi7csn wrote

What is the subreddit?

1

Drakotrite t1_izlcz25 wrote

I can't tell if this is a joke, but the third member of a poly relationship is sometimes called a unicorn, and an undue amount of r/polyamory is about discussing unicorns. That's probably what they meant based on the structure of the comment.

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Free_Deinonychus_Hug t1_izlsdyi wrote

Ahh, I know what that is but I just didn't make the connection.

I was imagining a group of lunatics hunting for unicorns like people hunt for Bigfoot.

2

djdefenda t1_izhypwn wrote

I'm keen to see how this turns out as my actual lease agreement says I can have 1 unicorn and up to 2 dragons.

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Cheeseknife07 t1_izik4f9 wrote

Thisis gonna be a dangerous legal precedent if unicorns are discovered!

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cgtdream t1_iziu57s wrote

I can see this being the plot of some wacky 90s era show.

Little girl is walking down the street with mom, and sees a guy dressed up in a unicorn suit.

Says "hes mine" and the guy gets "comically arrested"

Fast forward to court, and the guy has no lawyer, but tries to defend himself with the ol "it's just a suit!" And takes off his helmet. He still looses the case, and is ordered to live with the family and can never take off his costume.

Family turns out to be rich and lives on a mansion, and now this guy goes around acting like a really miserable and disgruntled "unicorn"......but occasionally gives out great life advice to the members of the family.

All of this happens in the intro, to some upbeat music.

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bibbidybobbidyboobs t1_izivx4l wrote

She definitely already had one hidden somewhere prior to this

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dalnot t1_izjbsgm wrote

Meanwhile I can’t have chickens in my own goddamn backyard

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Defected_J t1_izj28rs wrote

My daughter now has a rival.

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YeshilPasha t1_izj30nn wrote

So what is the definition of a unicorn by law now?

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DonBot95 t1_izjbkz5 wrote

Kyle told Cartman he would suck his balls if Cartman found a leprechaun and look how that turned out

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1

IMeanIGuess3 t1_izhh0j0 wrote

Does a rhino count as a unicorn?

1

Dransvitry_De_Medici t1_izhq44l wrote

Isnt rhinos latin identification one horn?

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Kendota_Tanassian t1_izjz16a wrote

Rhinoceros is basically "nose horn". Greek for "one horn" is monoceros, the Latin equivalent is unicorn.

The German equivalent of unicorn is "einhorn", the Mandarin Chinese version is Qilin.

The Indian Rhinoceros, or Greater One-Horned Rhinoceros, is indeed "rhinoceros unicorni".

If this girl finds an Indian rhino, she has permission to take it home now.

Speaking of India, Honda sells a motorcycle known as the Honda Unicorn there, so maybe she could take home a motorcycle.

1

bofh000 t1_izi8e2f wrote

Haven’t we learned anything about bringing into our lives species we’re not supposed to share germs with?

In any case the girl can join that lady who claimed ownership of the sun or some such kiddy stuff.

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Libertyprime8397 t1_izihxhd wrote

Imagine the disappointment if she found a Pegasus instead and could keep it because it’s technically not a unicorn. That or she finds Voldemort drinking it.

1

BlackFoxx t1_izimndq wrote

So you're saying she can just have that rhino at the zoo? For free?

1

Foodispute t1_izj2bmx wrote

I wish it wasn't illegal in the first place

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RestrictedX93 t1_izk3nr1 wrote

Been asking my wife for the same ability for years. She just gives me this look of disappointment and disgust.

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ShapeyShifter t1_izkllez wrote

The unicorn is Scotland's national animal

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focus503 t1_izkwonr wrote

The unicorn is the national animal of Scotland.

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Fast_Enthusiasm_6655 t1_j00f5mm wrote

The only “unicorn” she’ll have to find is a very generous, steadfastly happy, loving-hearted, and caring friend that she knows.

1

Tokyo5o t1_izk3pl0 wrote

They are going to let her kidnap a pro labor politician?

−1

coronaflo t1_izk6oja wrote

How is this uplifting?

−1

HappyHighwayman t1_izimz9t wrote

Waste of government time and resources. Positively ;)

−6

Kind-Tourist463 t1_izinbkr wrote

We actually paid somebody to discuss this …. This was paid for and then reported on….

−6

juriettochan t1_izhv2ft wrote

Don’t they have better fucking things to do with their time? Are they getting paid by tax dollars?

−16

CanuckNewsCameraGuy t1_izhxos6 wrote

Jesus dude, take a deep breath and chill.

This probably took all of an hour to pull together, can be paid for out of the PR/advertising budget, builds goodwill with the community and made some, probably most, people laugh.

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Ashura77 t1_izi5a5n wrote

Oh come on now, really? This is a sweet and hilarious story that probably made them work better since it brightened up their day. All the tax money wasted for nonsense, this isn't one.

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