Oklahoma woman fights to keep her therapy kangaroo

BROKEN ARROW, Okla. — An Oklahoma woman suffering from depression has found solace in the company of an unusual companion, but local city officials worry that the therapy pet -- a partially paralyzed kangaroo -- could become a public safety risk.

Christie Carr is seeking an exemption from the Broken Arrow City Council to keep Irwin, a 25-pound great red kangaroo that she cares for much like a child. Irwin rides in a car seat, is dressed in a shirt and pants each day and is rarely away from his doting caretaker.

At the advice of her therapist, Carr began volunteering at a local animal sanctuary, where she met Irwin, then just a baby. Less than a week later, the kangaroo named for famed Australian animal expert Steve Irwin ran into a fence, fracturing his neck and causing severe brain damage.

Carr volunteered to take the animal home and, while nursing him back to health, developed a bond. Irwin cannot stand or walk on his own, although he is slowly gaining back mobility and can hop three or four times in a row with assistance, she said.

"Irwin will not live if I have to give him up," Carr said, adding that she would rather leave town. "I can't imagine a day living without him."

Native to Australia, healthy male great red kangaroos can grow up to 7 feet tall, weigh more than 200 pounds and bound 25 feet in a single leap. But because of his accident, Irwin isn't expected to get larger than 50 pounds, his veterinarian, Dr. Lesleigh Cash Warren, wrote in a letter to the City Council supporting Carr's request to keep him.

Neutering has also lessened any chance he will become aggressive.

"Irwin cannot be judged as any normal kangaroo," Warren wrote. "He is a unique animal due to his disabilities and will require a lifetime of care and concern for his welfare."

Carr, who is unable to work because of her health, changes Irwin's diaper several times a day. She feeds him salad, raw veggies, kangaroo chow, popcorn and the occasional Cheez-Its or a handful of Cheetos.

The marsupial never leaves the house without first getting dressed. The clothes -- a little boy's shirt cut and sewed to accommodate his neck, sometimes a tie, and jeans or slacks with a hole cut for the tail -- are necessary for therapeutic reasons and to protect him against germs, Carr said.

The 1-year-old animal never leaves Carr's side for more than an hour, often accompanying her on errands and going out to eat. He rides in a car seat before being placed in a pouch when going out in public. Carr's therapist certified the animal as a therapy pet under the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Broken Arrow Mayor Mike Lester said he worries what could happen if Irwin is able to regain full mobility. The council has delayed considering the issue until an April 19 meeting, to give City Atty. Beth Anne Wilkening and other staff time to research the issue.

"There's just a myriad of things we need to consider," Lester said.

Every exception made sets a precedent, and the council must take that into consideration, Wilkening said. The council may decide to create an exotic animal review committee that would look at each animal on a case-by-case basis, he said.

Broken Arrow Nursing Home owner Joanna Cooper said she doesn't understand why keeping Irwin has become an issue. Carr has brought Irwin to the nursing home in the past for residents to hold and pet. Several residents of the nursing home plan to attend the upcoming council meeting with signs to show their support for Carr and Irwin.

"Why are people giving her problems when people have tigers and pit bulls?" Copper said.

RELATED STORIES ABOUT THERAPY ANIMALS:
• Miniature horse becomes guide for blind Muslim woman
• Remembering Baxter, therapy dog extraordinaire

-- Kristi Eaton, Associated Press

1st photo: Christie Carr gets a lick from Irwin at her home in Broken Arrow, Okla., on March 30. Credit: Sue Ogrocki / Associated Press

2nd photo: Irwin licks Carr outside the Broken Arrow Nursing Home, where the kangaroo participates in an animal-assisted therapy program. Credit: Sue Ogrocki / Associated Press

3rd photo: Carr feeds Irwin a piece of lettuce. Credit: Sue Ogrocki / Associated Press

4th photo: Carr puts Irwin into a car seat on the way to the Broken Arrow Nursing Home. Credit: Sue Ogrocki / Associated Press

5th photo: Broken Arrow Nursing Home resident Nette Hudson holds Irwin as Marguerite Blakemore looks on. Credit: Sue Ogrocki / Associated Press

Comments

[kellie payne]

ANY animal that cannot do what it should do naturally should not be alive. Yes its harsh, but it is fact. What about his diet? Human junk food is fed on a regualar basis - and, facts are not adding up. Why was a just furred joey out of its mothers pouch jumping around in the first place.

Ms Carr, is not able to look after him correctly, he is stressed and unhappy - and I can tell as Im a carer of these animals - difference is; Im from Australia and I release my animals back into the wild. If I get one into care that is NOT able to be released, it is destroyed. Its the LAW over here.

Clothes; to keep him warm? Load of crap - what is his fur for????

Im so over the whole 'lets keep them together', you know what - its not about THEM, its about a red kangaroo who cannot live a normal life - therefor, should not be made to live through what she is doing to him. Over it; I feel for Irwin.

[just think'n]

If this animal is paralyzed, then why does she need to have a leash and collar on him for walks? Where is he going?

[Rosemary Tate]

Hi,

I feel for Ms Carr but I personally feel that Irwin should be put to sleep. The animals has not quality of life. She compares him to a human, if they lost their legs do you advocate they should be destroyed. The fact is the Irwin is a kangaroo and it woujld not matter what animal it was, quality of life should come first.

Ms Carr think of Irwin and let him go for his sake.

Regards,

Rosemary Tate

[Rosemary Tate]

Elizabeth,
I am totally surprised by your response. You have not addressed Irwins welfare. I would love for you to visit me at my shelter. I am in Victoria Australia and male and sometimes female kangaroos be they Eastern Greys or Red definitely mature and their carers are the perfect target for a kick. I can show you the scars from EG's that I have raised. I have one, Kody, that I would love you to meet. He is released but comes home regularly and I am sure he only comes home for a feed and to stand up on his back feet and give me a kicking.
I assume you either have not been a shelter very long or do not raise your roos to release. Either way you should be more careful about what you say.
Irwin has no quality of life and needs to be euthanased.
Irwin's vet should be strong enough to tell Ms Carr that Irwin should come first and then Ms Carr should immerse herself in a job, even part time to combat her depression.
Normally I would not tell another shelter what I think but I think everyone is concentrating on the wrong issue "IRWIN" should be the topic not Ms Carr, she is being driven by emotions not his welfare.

Regards,

Rosemary

[L.A. Voter]

What's funny is that almost two weeks ago a woman named Candy wrote a comment here that fully explains everything -- how Irwin got here, what his life had been, and why it is NECESSARY for him to wear clothes. This woman KNOWS the kangaroo, knows the woman in the story, and knows the process by which the woman came to adopt the paralyzed animal. She also seems quite sensible and educated, in contrast to many of the stridently misspelled posts here.

And yet her insights into the situation were COMPLETELY ignored. Everybody, including not one but two wildlife rehabilitators, in Australia no less, just went off on their own little diatribes with only the most cursory attention to the facts of THIS case.

So for what it's worth Candy, thanks for your insight. I too volunteer at an animal shelter and know the animals as well as the volunteers very well, so I appreciate your vantage point. You made at least one reader and animal lover in Los Angeles much more sympathetic to Ms. Carr and her commitment to this disabled animal. Thanks!

[Kellie Payne]

@L.A. Voter - does Candy raise these animals in their natural environment? Im not quite sure how a TIE will Keep Irwin warm??? I can tell you, that there are so many loop holes into this story, as I - among others - have not taken this whole thing lightly. We have done our research.

Oh and in case you missed it LA Voter, I'm a carer myself - my mother has been one for over 30 years as well, and even she has said he needs to be destroyed. I have raised my joeys from pinkies (which means no hair) right through to watching me drive away as I leave them in the bush or decide that they dont even need to say goodbye.

Im appauled by the way some carer's in Australia are thinking about this whole thing - did you know, that over here, it is illegal to release an animal that cannot survive in the wild - it needs to be destroyed. Irwin cannot look after himself - he requires care 24/7 - and that is wrong. There is NO need to dress him; temps here in the middle of Aust get below zero, and the kangaroos out here don't wear clothes to keep them warm. They have a very dense undercoat that does that for them as well as protecting them from the rain. Again, I have to ask- the tie???? The dressing him up as Santa?? Let's now talk about his diet. His human junk food - his popcorn, his peanut butter sandwiches, his lettuce, his chips and the like. What do you think that is doing for him? He is given bone meal - apparently to help with his bone strength, but infact - it does the complete opposite; it is destroying his bones. This animal cannot stand up to support himself - his back will twist from the weight of him as he gets bigger and it will break - he will then need to be destroyed. He is in PAIN and is on human pain killers. He suckles his 'shirt' at 2 years of age, our little joeys do that when they are stressed.

Then lets look at the latest photos of Irwin - he is riding a BIKE!!!!!

Yes, we have a big problem over here with the commercial culling industry - and those who are aware and want to mention it, I hope you dont help it along by purchasing any kangaroo products - Adidas boots for instance. Trust me, when I tell you that people here - carers and non-carers - are doing everything in their power to stop this. So I would advise you not to even go there.

The ONLY people who know kangaroos are the people who raise them, release them and live with them. The people who spend their lives looking after them - not the ones who want to breed them to pull them out of a pouch when they are still tiny and SELL them for someone to have a pet. If you want to know anything about a kangaroo, their behaviour, their diet, how dangerous they CAN be - ask someone who knows - not someone who does not even live in the country the are native too.

[skip serpico]

Honestly, I think that this is an issue in which all sides have something of a valid point.

We really don't know what Irwin will be capable of, and shouldn't we err on the side of caution.

But Irwin being domesticated in such a manner also probably isn't the best action either.

I can't call it.