Dennis the emu, walking the streets and capturing the hearts of everyone he meets

Colorado Springs, Colo. (KRDO) - A clip is making its rounds on social media of an emu and an ocarina player sharing the same outdoor stage at Garden of the Gods.

Dennis is a four-year-old, six-foot emu who thinks he's a dog, at least that's what his owner, Billie Mitchell, tells us.

She says it all started when she'd take her dog for walks and Dennis insisted on coming along too.

"He'd want to come with because he will follow us anywhere, you know? And I didn't want to leave them behind. And so I brought him with us...with a little harness," says Billie Mitchell, his owner.

Mitchell says she expected Dennis to grow out of going on the strolls, but he's only grown to love it more, and now people are beginning to recognize him around Colorado Springs.

KRDO13 spoke to a fan of Dennis, who says he was brought to her school, and now she can't wait to meet him again.

"I didn't know what an emu was. I was walking down the hall and I saw him, and there was a crowd of people. I couldn't get too close because the crowd was so huge, but he was super cool," says Erin Wilson.

Billie tells KRDO13 she originally bought Dennis to guard her livestock, but now his sweet nature is becoming widely known by everyone who crosses his path.

"If I could just make people happy for the rest of my life with Dennis, that's what I would just do. I would just do this forever and ever. Dennis loves meeting people," says Billie.

If you would like to get a chance at meeting Dennis, Billie says she walks him at the Garden of the Gods on Wednesdays and Thursdays.

He will also be bringing his star power to the Manitou Springs Carnivale Parade next year.

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