Blake Hall
It’s impossible to stay in a poor mood in the presence of this adorable therapy kangaroo.
Meet Charlie the Kangaroo, a friendly marsupial who has brought smiles to military veterans at William E. Christoffersen Salt Lake Veterans Home since March 2015. Like a therapy dog or cat, Charlie helps soothe traumatized veterans by cuddling and playing with them.
In fact, Charlie is so good at coaxing vets out of their shells that he was chosen as the American Red Cross’ Animal Hero of the Year.
Noralyn Kahn told ABC News that Charlie’s sheer cuteness does help cure veterans of health ailments, albeit indirectly.
“It’s been proven that therapy animals lower blood pressure, and they lessen the need for a lot of anti-depressants because they just uplift everybody. For those residents who sometimes seem like they are not there with us, we can put an animal in their arms and it is just the most amazing thing,” Kahn said, “They just love Charlie.”
Kahn has raised 14 therapy kangaroos over the course of 16 years. She says that kangaroos are successful service animals because they help individuals trapped “in their own worlds” become more responsive. Kangaroos like Charlie also help young family members feel at ease in the facility.
Charlie only weights 30 pounds, and is still small enough to sit comfortably in a patient’s lap. However, when he is full grown he will be 5’2″ and 125 pounds.
The Red Cross hosts the Everyday Heroes event each year to recognize the individuals who are help improve the nation one volunteer hour at a time. The Animal Hero of the Year award often goes to therapy and service animals.