52 • APRIL 2024
Susan Marquez Hoppin’ toHelp Hoppin’ pin’ toHelp He burrows under blankets, sleeps in the bed, settles in on the couch to watch TV, and rides in a stroller munching on bananas and apples. No, it is not a toddler that Katrinna Miller calls her baby. It is a two-year-old red kangaroo named Twix. “He’s special,” says Katrinna Miller, who lives with Twix and a menagerie of other animals on a thirty-acre ranch in Pisgah. “He is a therapy animal, so he spends time with a host of people who might benefit from his presence.” Katrinna and Twix have worked with law enforcement and the district attorney’s office to provide support to victims as well as working with homeless people. “He also spent time with Gabby Buford, a young girl dying of cancer. Twix was so gentle with her. Animals can be so comforting to people who are suffering.” Katrinna understands. She learned about the therapeutic power of animals while experiencing trauma growing up. From being put up for adoption by her dying mother, then suffering years of abuse, Katrinna found solace in animals and sports. “That was my outlet. I believe animals saved me. I knew I wanted to help others someday.” The first in her family to graduate from high school, Katrinna is now a graduate student at Jackson State University researching the humananimal bond. “I looked for the best animal to create that connection and my research led me to kangaroos.” Katrinna had already had experience in training therapy dogs, and she has several exotic animals. She also has a USDA zoo license. “We are only permitted to purchase animals from other USDA licensed owners.” In the summer of 2022, Katrinna drove to Missouri to pick up Twix. “He was so tiny, just five- or six-months old,” she says. “I had to bottle-feed him, and he slept with me – he had to sleep in a sack to replicate his mother’s pouch.” Today, Twix comes up to Katrinna’s hips, although she says he can eventually grow to be six feet tall and weigh 200 pounds. “He is super sweet and has never kicked. He loves to visit people, and one of his favorite things to do is ride our animal school bus. He loves looking out the window.” Twix is always making Katrinna laugh. “He gets so excited and tries to hop like a kangaroo, but he will sometimes fall. I tell him his hopper is broken!” She adds, laughing, “But make no mistake, he can hop just fine. He’s just a little clumsy!” There is a special bond between Katrinna and Twix, and when he is looking for her, he makes a clicking noise. “He loves to hug with his hands. It’s just so sweet. It’s been so cool to work with him.” Twix, like so many of Katrinna’s animals, makes appearances at schools, retirement homes, and medical facilities. “I took him to Mississippi Sports Medicine recently in his stroller, and the people there fed him apples and bananas.” Taking care of so many animals is a huge undertaking. Katrinna has a non-profit, U.S. Therapy Animals (formerly Mississippi Therapy Animals), and she says they are nationwide. I train all the animals here, and I serve as the handler. There is a national process and steps we go through as well.” While she has two children, a second grader and a senior in high school who help with the animals on occasion, Katrinna says she relies on carefully chosen, qualified, trained volunteers for the day-in-and-day-out care of the animals. Keep up with Katrinna and Twix on Facebook at /ustherapyanimals. U.S. Animal Services / usanimalservicesms.com / 601-376-9847 Hometown RANKIN • 53