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'The pair met when he tried to eat her dress'. Doesn't sound like a promising start, does it?
But for a six-month-old kangaroo and a 16-year-old girl, an awkward encounter over a flowery garment was enough to sew the seeds of lasting love.
Jeni and Nick Dreis, from Spring, Texas, say the 12-pound kangaroo has become an amazing playmate for their daughter Kayla, who has Down's syndrome.
Playmates: 16-year-old Kayla Dreis, who has Down's Syndrome, has made a firm friend in six-month-old kangaroo Mike.
The couple claim the kangaroo, named Mike, took to the teenager at once.
'She was wearing a floral-print dress,' said Mrs Dreis.
'He wanted to eat those flowers! He hopped around after her, nibbling at her dress. She hopped backwards and led him around the house. Then she fed him his bottle and they've been inseparable since.'
Surrogate mother: When Kayla and Mike first met he tried to eat her dress - but now he settles for a quiet bottle feed.
When Mrs Dreis bought Mike from an exotic pet breeder and veterinarian not far from Spring, she didn't plan for him to act as a therapy pet for Kayla.
However, she believes the unusual animal has had an extremely positive effect on her daughter.
'Mike has been wonderful for our family,' she says.
'Kayla's changed her attitude remarkably. She wants to feed him, care for him and play with him. She loves him. Before she watched a lot of TV or played on her own.
'She has a strong personality so she was a little aggressive and bossy. She's always found it hard to find real friends and now she has a companion.
'I take him up to her bedroom in the morning before school and he licks her face.
'She jumps out of bed, happy to start her day. She can hold him like a baby on her hip - he won't let anyone else do that.'
The loveable partnership has also inspired Mr and Mrs Dreis to create the Texas Downs Facility, a wildlife park and organic farm providing support to those with intellectual disabilities.
When Mike is older he will go to live in an enclosure at the facility, and the Dreis family hope to give him a female kangaroo as a companion.
Within six years, Mike will be fully grown and may reach up to seven feet-tall and weigh somewhere between 200-250 pounds.
Kangaroos can have a life span of 25 years.
For now, though, he's quite content to play tag around the house with family dog Porter, or curl up on the sofa with Kayla.
Catch him while you can: Family dog Porter chases after Mike, who will be around seven feet tall when fully grown
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...-Syndrome-teen-Kayla-Dreis.html#ixzz1rGVj4rjl
I find this a heartwarming story. Animals have so much love to give. I'm glad Mike is helping Kayla.
But for a six-month-old kangaroo and a 16-year-old girl, an awkward encounter over a flowery garment was enough to sew the seeds of lasting love.
Jeni and Nick Dreis, from Spring, Texas, say the 12-pound kangaroo has become an amazing playmate for their daughter Kayla, who has Down's syndrome.
Playmates: 16-year-old Kayla Dreis, who has Down's Syndrome, has made a firm friend in six-month-old kangaroo Mike.
The couple claim the kangaroo, named Mike, took to the teenager at once.
'She was wearing a floral-print dress,' said Mrs Dreis.
'He wanted to eat those flowers! He hopped around after her, nibbling at her dress. She hopped backwards and led him around the house. Then she fed him his bottle and they've been inseparable since.'
Surrogate mother: When Kayla and Mike first met he tried to eat her dress - but now he settles for a quiet bottle feed.
When Mrs Dreis bought Mike from an exotic pet breeder and veterinarian not far from Spring, she didn't plan for him to act as a therapy pet for Kayla.
However, she believes the unusual animal has had an extremely positive effect on her daughter.
'Mike has been wonderful for our family,' she says.
'Kayla's changed her attitude remarkably. She wants to feed him, care for him and play with him. She loves him. Before she watched a lot of TV or played on her own.
'She has a strong personality so she was a little aggressive and bossy. She's always found it hard to find real friends and now she has a companion.
'I take him up to her bedroom in the morning before school and he licks her face.
'She jumps out of bed, happy to start her day. She can hold him like a baby on her hip - he won't let anyone else do that.'
The loveable partnership has also inspired Mr and Mrs Dreis to create the Texas Downs Facility, a wildlife park and organic farm providing support to those with intellectual disabilities.
When Mike is older he will go to live in an enclosure at the facility, and the Dreis family hope to give him a female kangaroo as a companion.
Within six years, Mike will be fully grown and may reach up to seven feet-tall and weigh somewhere between 200-250 pounds.
Kangaroos can have a life span of 25 years.
For now, though, he's quite content to play tag around the house with family dog Porter, or curl up on the sofa with Kayla.
Catch him while you can: Family dog Porter chases after Mike, who will be around seven feet tall when fully grown
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...-Syndrome-teen-Kayla-Dreis.html#ixzz1rGVj4rjl
I find this a heartwarming story. Animals have so much love to give. I'm glad Mike is helping Kayla.
