Several years ago, there was a dire situation here in my hometown. There were threats that our beloved zoo was going to be shut down because the city that runs it, didn’t have the funds to keep it afloat. There was talk back and forth between 2 counties, 2 cities, whatever, I’ve forgotten the details, but at the time, I couldn’t imagine the zoo closing it’s doors. I had spent 30+ years visiting that zoo and my own children loved it just as much as I did. Here is one of many devastating articles which laid out the plan for the end of the zoo.
Children and parents were devastated and the local news stations called for the residents to take a stand! It wasn’t long until you heard about people dropping off cash donations to the zoo. We the people, were hoping that our crumpled dollars and loose change might possibly make a difference.
The media raced to the scene of these cash drop-offs and not only were there adults giving money, there were images of small children giving their pennies to help “save the zoo”. My animal loving daughter, who was 7- years- old at the time, caught wind of “the end of the zoo crisis”, emptied her piggy bank into a plastic baggy and begged me to take her to the zoo, so she could give her money too.
So I did.
I took her to the zoo one evening, and we were on t.v., and she handed over her piggy bank savings and the reporter with the microphone said what a nice little girl she was.
Amazingly, the zoo was saved. Could it be that the little children and their ceramic piggies saved the day?
No, of course not. They didn’t need our money. The whole thing was just a lot of unnecessary, misleading hype. I realize that now.
So, the other day, when I opened up my local newspaper, and saw on the front page that the zoo has unveiled a million dollar carousel, I was a little surprised.
Five years ago, they were planning to ship the animals off, crate by crate, but somehow one million dollars was found, received, collected….whatever, and now they have hand-carved animals on poles worth $1,000,000.00.
Huh.
So, I say, all the little children who emptied their piggy banks should get a lifetime of free rides on that carousel.
Kids asked my why stores have going out of business signs the other night – it’s to get people in the doors. That’s very sweet about your daughter but I think your right – they deserve free rides for caring so much!
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Thanks Mellisa! Free rides for sure.
I totally agree! She deserves free rides for her very sweet (and apparently not necessary) donation! Hopefully they’re not trying to pull these same shenanigans now with the whole Science Center closing.
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I know they do it to get hype and public reaction, but to publicly accept money from children…..looking back I wish I had known better. But she felt good doing it so I guess really that is what matters.
That’s crazy!! I can’t believe that they would do something like that…. well, I should believe it. Regardless, it’s wrong and those kids should get free rides for life.
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I know Jackie…..really annoying. Free rides!
So glad to hear that the zoo didn’t close! Right now, in Toronto we are being faced with many city cuts and one of them is privatizing the 3 zoos that we have in a huge city.
I could only wish that things would be like they are with your zoo…but not sure that will work out!
Anyhow, thanks for the story..it brought me some hope! And of course, made me just a bit irked for the insensitivity of businesses..argh..
best,
Lisa
Lisa Pijuan-Nomura recently posted..A Time for Change!