Do You Come From a Land Down Under?

By MALINI BASU

KHOU 11 News

Posted on February 29, 2012 at 8:06 AM

Updated yesterday at 1:12 PM

SPRING, Texas – A local family is locked in a fight with their HOA over an unusual pet.
The Dreis family has a 6-month-old kangaroo, Mike.

But they didn’t get Mike just for fun – he’s actually there to help the family’s 16-year-old special-needs daughter, Kala.

Jeni Dreis said she got Mike for Kala from the Texas Downs, a facility that helps disabled adults.

"They seem to relate to each other a lot better. Animals sense that they have a special-needs child around them and special-needs children learn how to be tender and sweet around them," Jeni Dreis said.

Kala has only had Mike for a month, but her mom said he’s already taught the teen a lot.
"Kala has been learning to care for him, and Kala has learned how to meet needs above her own," Jeni Dreis said.

But the neighborhood HOA has different ideas about Mike’s future.

Jeni Dreis said the organization sent her family a letter asking that they "immediately remove the kangaroo" from their property, because it is "not a household pet."

That’s left Kala heartbroken at the prospect of losing her new friend.

"I would cry," she said.

Jeni Dreis said she’s sent a letter back to the HOA protesting the order, but as of Tuesday, she was still waiting to hear back.

I'm totally bummed by the misleading title of this article. "Texas Family Fighting To Keep Special Needs Kangaroo". Um, that would imply that the Kangaroo has special needs, right? Well, according to the article, that is NOT the case. Who allowed this to be published with this sort of title? They should be fired----they ruined my day! I was expecting to become educated regarding exactly what 'special needs' entailed for a kangaroo and I'm met with some boring, 'feel good' story. Also, what is up with a kangaroo being in Texas? Can they even live in the U.S.? That's the first I've heard of any of this. That's it, I'm calling Brian Fellows, he'll know the answer!

*By the way,  the family should TOTALLY be allowed to keep this guy because his name is "Mike" and, on what grounds is the HOA basing their declaration that Mike is NOT a household pet? Prove it!

-KC Jones