Therapy kangaroo to be honoured by Utah Red Cross

The Utah Red Cross plans to honour a year-old red kangaroo that works as a therapy animal at a Salt Lake City veterans home.

Red kangaroo to be honoured by the Red Cross. Image by Ralph Daily / CC BY 2.0

Charlie is one of about a dozen therapy animals at William E Christoffersen Veterans home. The marsupial has also visited special education classes and hospice care facilities. Charlie weighs 30 pounds (around two stone) but is expected to grow quickly, reaching about 5ft 2in and 125 pounds (nearly nine stone). That means he will not be able to stay in the veterans home much longer.

Bernie Kindred bonded with the bounder when he moved into the home about a year ago and told KUTV-TV he shares liquorice with Charlie. The Utah Red Cross will honour Charlie and veterans home administrator Noralyn Kahn in March.

(Press Association)