The owner of Star the reindeer mourns his first Christmas without his beloved pet but still wants answers about what happened
ANCHORAGE, Alaska - Albert Whitehead had so many holiday traditions with his pet reindeer Star over the years - Christmas block parties near his downtown home, and an annual visit with children at Inlet View Elementary where Santa would inspect Star to make sure he passed muster as his “reindeer in reserve” for the Christmas eve flight.
“I love to see a kid’s face when they see Santa Clause and a Reindeer and a present,” Whitehead said. “I mean there’s nothing better than that at Christmas time.”Security camera footage: Police return Star the reindeer after someone breaks into his pen The trusting deer was discovered hours late wandering downtown and was returned by an Anchorage police officer. Security video from the next night shows a man approaching Star’s pen from the sidewalk, then spraying an unknown substance on Star. The reindeer developed pneumonia, never recovered and eventually had to be put down. “That was hard, still is,” said Whitehead, remembering his beloved pet. Star was the seventh reindeer Whitehead has owned with the same name, and the only male. The reindeer was eight years old when he died.Whitehead is still frustrated about the fact that there’s been little, if any, progress in the case. All police will tell him, he says, is that it is still under investigation. “This is important to the town to find out what happened here,” he said. “It’s important to the community to realize that kind of activity cannot be tolerated.” “I don’t know how to get the word out to people that these guys are still out there,” he said, imploring anyone with information to contact APD. Whitehead is looking for closure, but he knows Star’s death is a loss for the whole community, especially when he thinks about the cards he received after the reindeer’s untimely death. “We have cards from around the world offering condolences. Star was not just ours; we were just a caretaker for her.” He said he’s working on a way to keep Star’s memory alive, perhaps a photo album on public display by the reindeer’s empty pen of all the people who have visited Star over the years. UPDATE: Troopers identify remains of Wasilla cardiologist found dead in home fire the day after being bailed out of jailJBER bans service members from going to Anchorage barBeat with a sledgehammer, body stuffed in tote: Jury convicts Anchorage man of murderFormer Disney animator’s polar bear film makes Oscar shortlistOwner of Anchorage bike shop gets his stolen bikes back after 7 years sitting in evidence
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