A Kangaroo in America
An American woman suffering from depression has found help in the company of an unusual companion, but local city officials worry thatthe therapy pet a partially paralysed kangaroo could becomea public safety risk. Christie Carrhopes city officials will allow her tokeep Irwin, a 25-pound great redkangaroo that she cares for muchlike a child. Irwin rides in a car seat,is dressed in a shirt and pants eachday and is rarely away from his doting caretaker. (2) At the advice of her therapist, Carr began volunteering at a local animal sanctuary, where she met Irwin, then just a baby. Less than aweek later, the kangaroo ran into afence, fracturing his neck andcausing severe brain damage. Carrmvolunteered to take the animal home and, while nursing him back to health, developed a bond. Irwincannot 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. "Irwin will not live if I have to give him up," Carr said. 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