Reward offered for missing unicorn

Published 8:00 am Wednesday, September 5, 2018

She’s the neighborhood “ambassador of happiness,” her only purpose to spread joy. She’s brought the Villa Dunes neighborhood In Nags Head together, and she’s one-of-a-kind.

But Tina is missing.

The unicorn, made of rusting metal, standing about 3.5 to 4 feet tall and weighing 25 to 30 pounds, vanished Friday evening. Owners Brett and Becky Harrison reported the disappearance to Nags Head police, who “graciously sent an officer out to us on a busy holiday weekend,” Becky Harrison said.

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The couple is offering a $100 reward for Tina’s return.

“In the past day and much to our surprise, many folks in the community have shared their own Tina stories,” Harrison said. “We are incredibly grateful for everyone helping us spread the word. We hope she’s still local and someone can bring her back home soon.”

Brett Harrison originally bought Tina from Barree Station in Duck.

“She magically showed up five-plus years ago,” Becky Harrison said. “I woke up one morning and she was looking in through our patio door.”

When the Harrisons moved to Villa Dunes a little over four years ago, Tina quickly became part of the neighborhood fabric.

“Neighborhood kids helped us paint her different color combinations and she would periodically move/hide around our yard and gardens,” Becky Harrison said. “She gets decorated for holidays and likes to hold various signs including motivation messages for runners in 5k races that route through our neighborhood.”

“She’s an ambassador of neighborhood joy and light-heartedness. It may seem like a silly lawn ornament, but Tina the unicorn represents a simple way to let people connect and to provide a smile to anyone passing by,” Harrison said.

Anyone with information on Tina’s whereabouts is asked to call Nags Head police, or simply return her to her spot in the Villa Dunes neighborhood.