If you're unhappy and you know it clap your hands—or get a kangaroo?
I understand depression. I've been there, been on meds for that. And I have several folks near and dear to me who survive each day only because of the coping chemicals they've been prescribed, the antidepressants they rely on. It's a serious issue and this post is not meant to make light of that. At all.
That being said, though, I don't think owning a kangaroo is the answer to depression. Or if it is, I want one of my own for giggles and kicks (har har). Or maybe a wild animal of another sort, a koala or a panda—heck, maybe even an elephant—instead.
Seems a woman in Oklahoma swears by the depression-easing effects of her pet kangaroo. I'm not talking a stuffed Roo but a real, live (albeit partially paralyzed) romping, stomping marsupial. Well maybe not so romping and stomping considering his paralysis but the fact remains she has a freakin' kangaroo she swears keeps her happy.
According to several stories from the Associated Press last week, Christie Carr was encouraged by her therapist to volunteer at a local animal sanctuary to help ease her depression. Which is where she came to know and love Irwin, a kangaroo named after animal expert Steve Irwin. Seems Irwin crashed into a fence, suffering brain damage and becoming partially paralyzed, and kind-hearted Carr convinced the sanctuary folks to let her take home injured Irwin to care for him.
Care for him she did...and does. Carr dresses the one-year-old red kangaroo in little boy's clothing, feeds him meals of salad and snacks of Cheez-Its and Cheetos, and keeps him with her always, everywhere, including the grocery store. Carr feels so strongly about Irwin that she's willing to run from the law to continue keeping her comical kangaroo by her side.
When officials in her hometown began to question what will happen once Irwin is healed from his crash and becomes a potential public safety issue, Carr took offense and took to the road. More than once. When questions first arose, Carr packed up Irwin and headed to live with her parents, saying she no longer felt Irwin was safe from possibly nefarious officials. Then, when the heat was turned up in her parents' town, Carr set out for another town, one where Carr hopes to stay with a friend—with Irwin, too—until things are sussed out.
Irwin the kangaroo may have helped with Carr's depression, but I dare say her obsession with him has sent her racing full throttle into Looneyville.
There's hope for a happy ending, though, at least for Irwin and possibly for Carr. Irwin will surely eventually recover from his injuries and paralysis. At such time I imagine he'll let it be known he's grown tired of the little boy jeans with a hole cut for his tail, the diapers Carr keeps on him, the carseat he's made to sit in while on the road—or on the run—with his captor protector. How will Irwin express his distaste? With big, powerful kicks, I have no doubt, as all self-respecting kangaroos are wont to do. And maybe, just maybe, he'll kick some sense into the wacky woman who helped heal him and she'll reluctantly agree to set him free. Or at least return him to the sanctuary where their silly story began.
I certainly don't know the depths of Carr's depression, but there's no doubt her judgement is clearly clouded, for how could any rational person possibly think a kangaroo makes for a good therapy pet? Wouldn't it make more sense to get a cuddly kittent or an ever-adoring Labrador to ease the pain and isolation of the disease? I'd think either would be a more acceptable choice, providing purpose and affection yet requiring no running from the law. They'd require no kangaroo-size diaper changes, either—a huge plus, if you ask me. (Even just the idea of having to deal with that would be enough to totally depress me in the first place, negating any and all chuckles even the most comical of kangaroos could possibly offer.)
Nope, I don't get it. I don't get Carr's rationale for running from town to town with a kangaroo. No matter how depressed she might have been or continues to be. A kangaroo in diapers, for that matter. Come to think of it, I also don't get how you'd even diaper a kangaroo—especially considering the holes she had to cut in the tot-size trousers to accommodate Irwin's tail. Seems the diaper would need a hole, too, rendering the Pampers pointless. Like the rest of the story, it just doesn't make sense.
I'm crossing my fingers for Carr—and for Irwin—that somewhere, somehow, Carr makes sense of the mess she's made, that she heads on home, that she returns Irwin to his. Before things get ugly...or seriously Thelma and Louise like. Then, if she really feels she must, maybe Carr can adopt a different pet for therapeutic purposes. Maybe one that doesn't go against local zoning ordinances. More importantly, maybe one that requires a litter box instead of diapers.
Photo: stock.xchng
Today's question:
If money and logistics (and common sense) were no consideration, what wild animal would you choose to have and to hold as a therapy pet?
Monday, January 16, 2012
Reader Comments (14)
I've already done this. I took in an 8 month old? feral kitty 11 years ago. Just a sucker for a starved, filthy, malnourished animal in the wild...I couldn't leave her there. I should have entered therapy afterwards!
She still doesn't like to be held, but she finally tolerates being pet...kind of, sort of. Vet visits are quite challenging since her first instinct is to fight. Everyone is terrified of her but me (including the vets:)
Oddly enough, she's one of the most loyal pets we've ever owned. In addition, she's the first cat we've known to 'grieve'...almost had to put her on a feeding tube when her kitty playmate had to be returned to my daughter after college. It was heartbreaking to watch.
That's as far as I'm ever going to venture to 'taming' a wild animal...& no diapers, special clothing, etc. Just a warm house, food, medical care, my bed, the occasional tuna, and some kitty toys! And love.
Perhaps the woman in Oklahoma needs more people/legal pets in her life to love and love her back? How sad.
I must confess that I don't have a soft spot for animals. Generally speaking, I don't care to do the work required to keep a pet. The most exotic animal I'd be willing to keep is a big, fat, lazy house cat.
Somehow, I'm afraid this story is not going to have a happy ending. All I can think of is the pet chimpanzee that attacked Charla Nash. Some animals are just not meant to be kept as pets.
I have no desire to have a wild animal as a pet. I think they should remain in their natural environs, although I admit that I love zoos because that's the only way I will ever get to see more than a tiny percentage of the world's creatures. I do have some unusual grand-pets--an iguana and a hedgehog, along with the usual assortment of dogs and cats. I also have a granddaughter who wants a pet lemur.
The problem with stories like this is that Carr is going to find support. Once it hits the media it could go as far as rallys or picketing. The people supporting her are likely to be much more off balance than she is. People love the idea of interacting with wild life, in spite of so many stories of serious injury and even death inflicted by so called tame, loving wild animals (remember the guy who lived with bears?).
I love animals, but humans can be so foolish with them, even domesticated animals. I knew a lady once who gave great parties except for her dogs. She didn't have any kids and her dogs were her "babies." Most untrained beasts I've ever seen, three of them. They were allowed to do anything the humans did, sit on furniture, steal food, lick - well, I don't remember any humans licking, but still. I don't think those dogs were happy, I know the guest weren't.
I feel sorry for both Carr and the kangaroo, I have a feeling she is no longer in therapy. She should try walking, keeps me away from kangaroos, and too many dogs.
I'm not crazy about wild animals. They are pretty to look at in pictures and ok at the zoo (not even a zoo fan) but I'll pass on harboring one. I think anything could help depression on the right person. The key is the person and what triggers them. I guess. I'm no doctor. The kangaroos are way cute though. Just keep them in the picture. LOL
Poor Irwin. Wouldn't one suppose that, if Ms. Carr loves him so much, she'd see that his injuries were caused when a fence--a man-made structure which would never have existed in his natural habitat--inhibited his natural instincts to bound about the terrain like God and nature intended him to do? So she puts even further restraints (diapers, blue jeans ) on the poor disabled creature? in my opinion, she's self-centured, using Irwin to relieve HER depression and completely without concern for HIS. I think she's the one who needs to be locked up.
OMG. She is not helping that poor animal, she is ruining his chances of ever again living in the wild, even if he does recover his ability to move. Also, that animal sanctuary is going to lose whatever credibility it had for allowing this to continue.
No wild pets for me. I am a firm believer that wild animals belong -- in the wild! I will stick to my cats.
Wow, really?!!! I think wild animals are called "wild" for a reason... I don't think I would even venture to "wish" for one... because I just don't think taking them out of their normal elements is a good thing for them. So, no... no wild pets/animals for me... I don't even have a regular pet.. unless you count the fish in the fish tank that the children picked up with their dad one day at the pet store without consulting me first! HAHAHA. A better therapy for me would be volunteering at a shelter (for people!) or something with my chidlren... so we can all see first hand how fortunate we all are to have what we have. I hope this kangaroo story has a happy ending. i hope she comes to her senses and realize that he doesn't belong 'on the run" with her... but at a place where he is free to roam - even if he is paralyzed.
It's stories like this that make me proud to be from Oklahoma. ;-)
I'd go with an otter. Because they're cute and happy and no one ever gets kicked in the head by one. Plus, I think it would be a LOT easier to diaper.
Right after my divorce I took up with a "wild animal" that I too thought was making me happy. Then I got to know him better and found out that he was anything but loyal and that he was making a lot of other women happy, too! :>)
Thank you, everyone! Great comments. Looks like we're all in agreement on poor Irwin's plight. And Carr's, too.
I gotta hand it to Nona Nita for providing the biggest chuckle of my day! Too funny! :o)
I have to agree with everyone who said this whole thing is a little loony. Where are the people who are supposed to be looking after Irwin. He is going to need some serious help when this woman finally has the good sense to let him get it.
I think that it is the getting out and doing something for somebody else that helps with the depression. personally I volunteer twice a week in a kindergarten. Isn't that the same as working at a zoo?
I would have a fuzzy, cuddly cocker spaniel.