City amends law for disabled kangaroo

BROKEN ARROW, Okla., May 5 (UPI) -- An Oklahoma city passed an amendment to its exotic animal ordinance to allow a local women to keep her disabled kangaroo if she meets a set of conditions.

The Broken Arrow City Council amended the ordinance, which previously did not allow exotic animals in the city, to allow resident Christie Carr to keep Irwin the kangaroo if she meets conditions to be overseen by a review committee made up of veterinarians, exotic animal experts and wildlife sanctuary operators, the Tulsa World reported Thursday.

The conditions include obtaining liability insurance, which Carr said has been taken care of by an anonymous donor, and ensuring the animal has a proper enclosure and veterinary care.

Carr, a former volunteer at Safari's Interactive Animal Sanctuary in Broken Arrow, said Irwin came home with her after suffering injuries including a broken neck and a brain injury when he ran into a fence post. She said Irwin was initially paralyzed by the injury but can now make a few hops before falling down.

Carr welcomed the amendment.

"It won't be as easy as it sounds," Carr said of meeting the conditions. "But it's not 'no.'"