BROKEN ARROW, Okla. (AP) — 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.
First of all, let’s get this out of the way, do you really have high hopes for a story that comes out of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma?
Now, let’s look at just this sentence, not even the rest of the story … the woman was depressed. She got a partially paralyzed kangaroo, and it pulled her out of her depression (I’m assuming that’s what “found solace” refers to). But if she keeps the kangaroo, it could become a public safety risk. Anyone think that if you take the kangaroo away she will become a public safety risk? She’ll plummet into a worse depression, and then she’ll go to a school and open fire on innocent children before killing herself, all the while screaming, “I just wanted my kangaroo.”
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.
Is it just me, or does that picture of the kangaroo in the carseat look like, “Please, just kill me.” But you know what, if the kangaroo is attached to her hip all the time, how much of a threat can it become?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.
Aww, that’s so sad. So, wait, the kangaroo has brain damage and the government wants to ban it. Isn’t that a violation against some sort of disability act or discrimination laws or something???
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.
If it was such a big deal that the kangaroo be in the general public, why did they let her take it home? I mean, honestly…
Furthermore, the dang kangaroo can only hop three or four times – with assistance – how much of a threat can this thing be? Oh no, it might eat all the lettuce in the local Kroger.
"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."
That’s very sad. We had our idiot real estate developer attempt to ban dogs in our neighborhood, after it was established, and a bunch of people said they’d rather move than give up their dogs. So I can appreciate the sentiment.
Come on, Broken Arrow people, she treats this thing better than some people treat their kids and you don’t take their kids away from them – why take her kangaroo away from her?
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 council supporting Carr's request to keep him.
Yeah, well, they can, but ten-to-one says this one won’t. I mean, if he gets to the point she can’t cart him around anymore, I’m sure she will be rethinking her “parenting” strategy. Given this woman’s devotion, I seriously think that will involve releasing it onto the mean streets of Broken Arrow to terrorize little children and cause traffic jams.
Neutering has also lessened any chance he will become aggressive.
Well, yay for the snip. You know, the people at PetSmart taught me that a fearful dog is way more likely to attack someone than an angry/aggressive dog. So, you know, so long as this kangaroo doesn’t have to live in fear, it will probably remain fairly docile. So, mayor-boy, STOP SCARING IT!!!!!!!!!
"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."
I mean, I think it’s awesome the vet took the time to write that, but it seems like any moron would know that. It has brain damage, and is obviously not growing at the rate of a normal kangaroo, I mean, “duh.”
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.
Dude, that kangaroo eats better than I do!
You laugh at the “kangaroo chow” thing – there’s actually a business here in rinky-dink Georgetown that sells kangaroo feed. I laughed when he told me, he said there was actually a market for it. So there, Broken Arrow city council. I don’t see Mayor Varney trying to kick the kangaroos out.
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.
OMG, seriously? A tie. You know you have a mental picture of a kangaroo in a tie and you are melting from the cuteness of that picture. And if you’re not, you are evil, and are probably on the city council in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma.
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.
See, the kangaroo is certified as a therapy pet (way to go therapist!) so it’s got to be protected. And I mean, seriously, he is in public in a pouch. If/when he gets big enough this woman can’t cart him around like that anymore, I’m sure she will rethink her strategy. (And I really hope it doesn’t entail putting that poor, disabled kangaroo on a leash.)
Broken Arrow Mayor Mike Lester said he worries what could happen if Irwin is able to regain full mobility. The council last week delayed considering the issue until an April 19 meeting, to give City Attorney Beth Anne Wilkening and other staff time to research the issue.
Yeah, and monkeys might fly out of its butt too. But you’re not going to take it away because of the possibility of adding more non-native animals to the general population of Broken Arrow, are you?
"There's just a myriad of things we need to consider," Lester said.
Yeah, you wanted an excuse to say myriad, didn’t you? Well, good job, but your argument has little merit.
The kangaroo has BRAIN DAMAGE! It’s already way smaller than its counterparts, which means it’s not growing at a normal rate. It can’t hop WITHOUT ASSISTANCE! The woman who owns it carries it around IN A POUCH! The possibility of this animal doing something is slim to none. But, you know, why don’t you reconsider this plan if/when the kangaroo outgrows its carseat and pouch. When it can hop unassisted. When monkeys fly out of its butt. Until then, STFU and let the woman have her therapy pet. Brain-damaged kangaroos need love too.
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.
Wow, you really think this is going to come up enough that you have to create an “exotic animal review committee?” Honestly?
If that’s the case, I suggest everyone in Broken Arrow go get an exotic animal, find a good reason for having it, and get your tax dollars’ worth out of that new committee.
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.
Yeah, I wonder if the kangaroo can predict death like that cat. Wonder if he was useful like that if the mayor would let him stay.
Actually, all sarcasm aside, I think it’s cool she shares the love of her off-the-wall pet with the people in the nursing home. Their lives can get so mundane, it’s nice to have something out-of-the-ordinary to brighten their days.
"Why are people giving her problems when people have tigers and pit bulls?" Copper said.
I agree with the sentiment in this quote, however, I don’t think tigers and pit bulls fall into the same category. Pit bulls are aggressive, yes, but hardly exotic animals. I’m just saying…
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