Tennessee man strangles neighbor’s kangaroo to death, pet owners to file lawsuit
A Tennessee man strangled a neighbor’s pet kangaroo to death while attempting to entice the roaming animal back to his enclosure. According to Sumner County Sheriff Tim Bailey, authorities arrived at the property at 5 pm after receiving allegations of two persons 'who had been in a battle with a male kangaroo' named Carter.
Carter's owners, Hope and Chris Lea, said to local news station WKRN that they discovered Carter’s body surrounded by other younger kangaroos after returning home. “He didn’t have anywhere to go,” Carter's owner Hope explained. “He was choked to death in his own space.” She went on to say, “We've had Carter since he was a little nugget. It's like losing a family member.” Neighbors saw Carter had escaped from his confinement on the owners' property, which sparked the whole incident. The Leas family was contacted by the neighbors to ask if they might return the kangaroo to his captivity. The Leas said they advised their neighbors, who were not identified, that they may feed the kangaroo to entice his return to his fenced-in territory.
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The couple also stated that they will be at their house in an hour to handle the problem. The lady was allegedly attacked by the kangaroo when she and her husband attempted to bring him back to the enclosure on the Leas' property. Before the Leas returned home, the woman's husband intervened and strangled the kangaroo, killing Carter while neither of the neighbors sustained any significant injuries. The Leas says they returned home to see Carter's dead corpse surrounded by other younger kangaroos. 'I was screaming because all of the babies were standing around his dead body and I was just so upset,' Hope recounted. The couple is now considering filing a lawsuit against their neighbors for the death of their pet kangaroo.
Although most foreign animals are prohibited as pets in Tennessee, some native reptiles and other uncontrolled species, such as sugar gliders, hedgehogs, and kangaroos, are permitted. Kangaroos are legal to buy in Tennessee, with males costing roughly $2,000 and females costing around $3,000. Washington, Idaho, Nevada, New Mexico, Texas, Illinois, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Maine, and New Jersey also allow kangaroo ownership with a permit. Kangaroo ownership permit is not needed in Wisconsin, West Virginia, or South Carolina.