Owner Fights to Keep Paralyzed Baby Kangaroo with Brain Injury

posted on Apr 06 by Admin in the Disability News, Fun, Opinion and Discussion category

Christie Carr, a woman who suffers from severe depression, was advised by her therapist to start volunteering at an animal sanctuary in Oklahoma. She had only been working there for a week when she fell in love with a baby kangaroo (Irwin) who was left paralyzed after running into a fence and fracturing his neck.  Carr adopted Irwin and took him home to take care of him, however now City Council of Broken Arrow is concerned he could become a threat to the safety of the community.

Irwin is a full-time responsibility for Carr. He wears diapers and requires specific types of food (although he is occasionally allowed to splurge on cheetos & cheez-its.) Irwin is also dressed in clothes each day to help keep him less exposed to germs. He is never left alone for longer than an hour at a time, and when possible she even takes him in the car where he has his own car seat. Carr even got Irwin certified under the Americans With Disabilities Act as a therapy pet.

The City Council believes Irwin could grow to someday be a threat to their society if he ever reaches full recovery. Full grown kangaroos can reach up to seven feet tall, weigh up to 200 pounds and jump up to 25 feet. Carr says, “Irwin will not live if I have to give him up. I can’t imagine a day living without him.” The council has not come to any final decisions at this moment, but Carr can’t help but be concerned about losing her companion.

Dr. Lesleigh Cash Warren, Irwin’s veterinarian, believes due to his injuries he will not grow to weigh over 50 pounds meaning he is not believed to ever have the potential of being a threat. The brain injury he encountered during his accident left him in need of care quite possibly for the rest of his life, however Irwin has seen some improvement and can now hop with Carr’s assistance.