A pink leopard and a giraffe are touring Fresno, but what they really need is to return home

In the past few days, a pink leopard and a small but friendly giraffe have been spotted all over town.

They’ve dined at Mimi’s Café, worked out with a personal trainer, gone to the grocery store, and have even taken a quick trip to the Central Coast. But the question is, where did they come from?

The two stuffed animals were found together by Brenda Kirby on a sidewalk in Clovis. Instead of ignoring their plight, she scooped them up and took them home with her. She decided to try to find their owners by putting up posters and contacting the local news, but so far no one has stepped forward. So Brenda’s taken her rescue operation to the next level, giving the stuffed pair a week of excitement around town.

“I just figured they were being left by a little one, and used to lots of activities and snuggles. I couldn’t just leave them to sit at home, instead I’d add an adventure for them,” explains Brenda.

Brenda recently retired from Office Management, and she and her husband love to travel. She’s also the proud grandmother to five grandkids. It was her grandkids who helped inspire her to give the stuffed animals a life experience of activity and fun.

“One of my grandsons has a giraffe that looks similar to the one I found. His giraffe is named Raffi and he takes it everywhere. He even has a backup Raffi at his preschool.”

If Raffi has inspired this stuffed animal adventure, he certainly lives a fabulous life. So far, the lost pair have sampled dessert at Chosen Yogurt and shopped at Hobby Lobby. Brenda dutifully documents all their adventures on Facebook, with the plea to help them “find their own beds.” However, after a trip to Pismo, one has to wonder how motivated the small menagerie is to return home.

Brenda hasn’t given up, though. In the meantime, they’ve met with a personal trainer at GB3 and even helped with the household chores.

“I hope they find their home soon,” laughs Brenda. “They’re wearing me out. Tucking them in at night, keeping them busy, protecting them from being bothered by the dog…”

If you (or a child you know) have been missing a spotted pair of stuffed pals, let us know in the comments. Although Brenda has shown the world her amazing babysitting abilities, she thinks they’re ready to get back to their original best friend.

[All photos by Brenda Kirby]