UPDATE! THE KANGAROO WILL STAY!

OMG I want a baby kangaroo now!

A local family has won a battle 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.

In the Dreis household, Mike the kangaroo is much more than just a pet - he's a beloved member of the family. 

For that reason, the actions of the homeowners association where they live in Spring, Texas, has come as a shock.

Jeni and Nick Dreis bought the red kangaroo about a month ago, and are taking care of him for the next year before he’s moved to a wildlife park.

Mike’s closest companion is the Dreis’ 16-year-old daughter Kayla, who has Down’s syndrome.  Kayla says, “I like to snuggle with him. He's silly. And he loves me.”

But on February 20, the Dreis’ received a terse letter from the Estate of Legends Ranch Homeowners Association, threatening to cut their relationship short.

The letter read: 'Please immediately remove the kangaroo from your property as it is not a household pet nor can it be maintained for any business purposes. You are asked to correct the violation immediately.'

While red kangaroos are the largest of the marsupial class when they reach adulthood, Mike only weighs about 10 pounds.

But it’s a happy—or should we say hoppy—ending for Kala. The HOA has had a change of heart and will let the family keep Mike.

“We regret the miscommunication. Now that we have more information about the situation, it was never our intention to separate this beautiful girl from the kangaroo,” The Estates of Legends Ranch HOA said in a written statement. “We know that the baby kangaroo will only live in our community for a brief time until a more suitable home can be found. We plan to work with the family to do what’s best for all homeowners.”

It's not often that people will reverse course, admit they may have made a mistake, and actually do something to help a family like this.  A nice story as we head into the weekend.  I just hope nobody tries to get in this kangaroo's pouch and go for a ride.

-Big Ran