Allen residents asked to help search for an escaped ‘candivore’ dinosaur ahead of Halloween

The City of Allen is asking its residents to help search for Cece — an escaped 53-pound, 205-million-year-old Coelophysis in partnership with Billings Productions, widely known as “The Dinosaur Company.”

While Coelophysis were known to be meat-eaters millions of years ago, Allen Police Chief Brian Harvey told guests in a press conference on Sept. 28 that Cece is not dangerous, according to a release from the city.

“Thought to be a carnivore, Cece is actually a candivore with a preferred diet of sugar and chocolate,” Harvey said. “Because of this, it is imperative that we find her before Halloween.”

Search parties first formed on Oct. 1, Harvey said, but nearly halfway through the month Cece has still not been found. He said officers have only found evidence along Allen’s trail system, so that’s where they are asking residents to focus their searches.

New search locations will be announced each Thursday through the end of the month in the Search for Cece the Dinosaur Facebook group — where Allen residents and visitors can post clues, such as any eggs, teeth or footprints they might find along Allen’s trail system.

According to the city, the goal of the big escape is to encourage visitors to travel Allen’s trail system and highlight different city services throughout the month.