BROKEN ARROW, Okla. (AP) — An anonymous donor has purchased a$50,000 insurance policy to help an Oklahoma woman keep her petkangaroo as a therapy pet.

The Broken Arrow City Council is considering an exotic animalordinance exemption that would allow Christie Carr to keep thepartially paralyzed red kangaroo named Irwin within citylimits.

Council could vote May 3 on a proposal that would allow exoticanimal owners to keep their pets if they obtain a newly-createdpermit. The permit would require them to have a liability insurance policy for any injuries inflicted by theanimal, certification that the animal has adequate housing for itshealth and meet all federal and state guidelines for licensing,among other provisions.

"It's amazing for someone to be as generous as that," Carr saidFriday, adding that she had no details about who bought theliability insurance for Irwin. "I can't believe the support."

Carr said she couldn't have afforded to purchase such a policyand even contemplated moving out of Broken Arrow to continue caringfor the animal.

"That was the biggest hurdle I saw," she said. "It's not a suredeal yet, but we're closer."

Councilman Richard Carter said the ordinance exemption isdesigned to allow Christie to keep Irwin within city limits whilesafeguarding residents from potential harm the animal mightcause.

"We realize it's not in the category of a pit bull or Rottweiler, but we still need to protect thepublic," Carter said.

Native to Australia, healthy male great red kangaroos can growup to 7 feet tall, weigh more than 200 pounds and bound 25 feet ina single leap.

Because Irwin was neutered and is partially paralyzed afterrunning into a fence, he is not supposed to get bigger than 50pounds, his veterinarian said.

For more pictures of Irwin and his owner, clickNEXT

Christie Carr, right, shows Irwin the kangaroo the sign thatresidents of Broken Arrow Nursing Home made for him in BrokenArrow, Okla. Holding the sign are Daisy Stout, left, Mary Butler,center, and Florence Rhodes, right. Looking on at far right isMartha Rowe. The sign was made to show the city council that theysupport Irwin. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

In this March 30, 2011 photo, Christie Carr dresses herkangaroo, Irwin, in a shirt in her home, in Broken Arrow, Okla.,before going out to visit a nursing home. Carr suffers fromdepression and has found solace in Irwin, but local city officialsworry that the therapy pet, a partially paralyzed kangaroo, couldbecome a public safety risk. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

In this March 30, 2011 photo, Nette Hudson cuddles Irwin atBroken Arrow Nursing Home in Broken Arrow, Okla. (AP Photo/SueOgrocki)

Christie Carr puts her kangaroo, Irwin, into a car seat for theride to visit a nursing home, in Broken Arrow, Okla.

Christie Carr gets a lick from her kangaroo, Irwin, in her homein Broken Arrow, Okla. Carr suffers from depression and has foundsolace in Irwin, but local city officials worry that the partiallyparalyzed therapy pet could become a public safety risk. (APPhoto/Sue Ogrocki)