Therapy kangaroo brings smiles to veterans home

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah - This Salt Lake Veteran's home is no stranger to therapy animals, but some of these creatures are a little out of the ordinary.

They have dogs, cats, a have a hundred pound Zakata tortoise who's now in hibernation and they have Charlie the kangaroo.

A kangaroo?

 'In the last 16 years I've raised 14 kangaroos in my nursing homes' said administrator Noralyn Kahn.

Charlie is growing up with the love and support of dozens of residents.

'As a tiny kangaroo they can hold him, love him and feed him a bottle, and as he gets bigger he just hops all over the facility' said Kahn.

Resident Art Nunn says Charlie fits right in.

'Well the first time i was... I thought I'd lost my taw, and then i got thinking wait a minute, he's wearing a diaper he must belong here.'

Kahn says Charlie brightens up the home.

'He is an amazing therapy pet that allows the residents to laugh, the children aren't afraid to come see grandma and grandpa cause they can come see Charlie, it's all positive.'

And the veterans agree.

'People don't believe that they can walk over and pat a kangaroo and i say never miss a chance, you'll never know when it will happen again' said Nunn.

According to Kahn, the experience can be life changing.

'He has done such a great job for those that are depressed, those who maybe aren't really aware of their surroundings, if you put an animal or a baby in their laps they come right back home.'