Saving Each Other: An Unlikely Match Made In Heaven

20 Apr 2011: For 39 year old Christie Carr, from Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, depression almost ended her life. Over a year ago, she attempted suicide, but thankfully survived.

After recovering, she decided to volunteer at an animal rescue facility. She met and instantly bonded and fell in love with a baby red kangaroo, which had been paralysed and brain damaged from an accident in a wildlife sanctuary.

Christie was so attached to this little roo, who she named Irwin, after Australia's own crocodile hunter, Steve Irwin, that she formally adopted the little red. Irwin has limited feeling in the lower half of his body due to his spinal injury. But this doesn't bother Christie, who cares for him, as if he were her own child.

Christie has had the now 15 month old roo, registered as a certified therapy pet. They travel around to nursing homes, to visit the elderly. Christie says that she can tell that Irwin gets excited when he spends time with the old aged residents. And they love having their regular visits from Irwin, which include kisses and snuggles.

Christie does everything for Irwin, who she dresses up in clothes when they go on outings. He wears a nappy as he lives inside, sleeps in a comfy bed with Christie, and even has his own booster seat for the car, which has been modified especially for his tail.

Recently though, Christie and Irwin's relationship has been threatened, as her local council has classed the ‘big red' as an exotic pet, which isn't allowed in her city. Under normal circumstances, a healthy big red can grow up to 7 feet tall, which would make the council's concerns justified. But in Irwin's case, his vet has assured Christie that he will get no bigger than about 22kgs, therefore would hardly threaten anyone's safety.

The council will be discussing whether or not Christie will be able to keep Irwin in her home. If not, she says she will do anything to stay with her beloved pet, even move to another town. She fears that after being together for a year now, he would die if they were to be separated.

Some people think that Christie is ‘crazy' for dressing him up and keeping him in her house, and feel that he would be better suited to living in an injured animal facility. The truth is though, they are both saving each other. He has helped her through her depression, and she is helping him regain feeling and strength in his body. Who knows, he may have been euthanized if it wasn't for her adopting him. Christie and Irwin do therapy everyday to help him gain movement and her and the veterinarians can see improvement as time passes.

I personally think that this is a beautiful story, and love that someone is willing to give their whole life for the love of an animal. I have mentioned many times of the power that animals have over humans lives, and to me, this is just more proof.

Watch the video on this website to see the love that they share, it's just beautiful! http

Irwin and Christie snuggling