VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (December 14, 2012)--A man in Virginia Beach ended up with an unusual jogging partner when an emu began to follow him.

Animal shelter supervisor Wayne Gilbert said Virginia Beach residents contacted the city after the emu showed up Thursday alongside the jogger in the Highgate Green neighborhood.

It turned out that the bird had wandered away from its home.

Emus are legal to own in the area.

Gilbert told news media outlets that animal control officers located the bird, which was returned to its owner.