Shug was one of four zebras being taken from Winlock back to their home at an unofficial petting zoo in Anaconda, Montana, operated by Kristine Keltgen.

"I kind of felt helpless," Keltgen said on KIRO Newsradio's "The Gee and Ursula Show" regarding the week-long search. "I'm in Montana, my life is still here. I have animals to take care of. I have my kiddo and stuff going on, so it would have been really hard for me to just pick up and spend weeks looking for a zebra. So I felt more or less helpless, like I had my hands tied."