Crisis averted: The baby goat stolen from the Great American Petting Zoo has been found and is en route to be returned to his mother, officials from the Arizona State Fair say.

GusGus, a 3 1/2-week-old baby goat, was missing for 20 hours when someone discovered him near a North Phoenix canal, Kristi Walsh, the fair's director of marketing, tells New Times.

"That person saw him and turned him into a local PetSmart. And because of all the media coverage, the pet store worker recognized him and called us," she says. "He's currently in the car with a fair official and should be back with his mother by 3 p.m."

GusGus, who made headlines with his disappearance — he even has a Twitter account — was stolen about 5:30 p.m. Wednesday from a petting zoo exhibit at the state fair. Fair officials cautioned that given GusGus' young age, were he not returned to his mother immediately, there was a good chance he would die. 

"We are very grateful for the rapid response of the media and Arizonans in getting the word out today about Baby GusGus," states Karen Searle, Arizona State Fair livestock director. "It's wonderful to be a part of a community that comes together to rescue a helpless animal and return it to his mama."

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