As I was browsing through the blogs this evening I came across a post written by someone who has a membership at the Denver Zoo. It reminded me of something that happened or, should I say, something that I learned about earlier today. While attempting a call to the Chattanooga Zoo at Warner Park in Chattanooga, Tennessee, I wasn't greeted by their normal voicemail system or their bright and cheery receptionist. Instead I was greeted by a voicemail message stating something to the effect of "We are closed until Saturday (blah blah blah), we'll provide details later." "Weird," I thought to myself. No, actually, "Really Weird!" A zoo secret? Did some really large animal go on the rampage and run wild through the zoo, tearing everything apart? I wanted to know what was up! That was until I found out what was up, then I didn't want to know anymore.
I searched online and came across a couple stories from the local Chattanooga paper and some online news information site. On November 7th there was a fire in one of the buildings at the zoo, resulting in around $50k in damage to the structure itself. But, housed in that building was the Education Department and, living in that education department were program animals. You know what those are, right? Those are the little animals your child or grandchild gets to see and hold when they visit the zoo on school field trips or during summer camps, etc. These are the little critters that most people forget about when at a zoo because, frankly, they're not Bears, Lions, Elephants or Monkeys. The fire broke out at 11:00 p.m. and Firefighters and zoo staff rushed back and forth into the burning building trying to save as many of the animals as they could. Unfortunately, some lives could not be saved. I had a lump in my throat. Tears welled up in my eyes. These animals home burned down, many of them with it.
As Real Estate professionals we think of housing in the traditional sense. Real property. An asset. But as I sat there thinking about the animals, the zoo, the education department, I realized that housing is not just for people. It can be disguised in many forms. For the twenty or so animals that made it though the fire, they don't have a home to go back to. The Education Department at the Chattanooga Zoo was their home. What a reality check!
The Chattanooga Zoo is accepting online donations and assistance. You can either donate $25 or more or sign up for zoo membership for a slightly higher fee. For the link to donate, visit the zoo's website at http://www.chattanooga.gov/PRAC/30_953.htm. If you live in the Chattanooga area, supplies are needed to help care for the animals. Visit the link above to find out about more ways to help and donation drop locations.
If only a small percentage of the ActiveRain community places a donation to the zoo, we could make a monumental impact - to the zoo, the visitors, and the animals and their home. When making a donation there is an area on the form asking, "Where did you hear about us?" - Let's fill that blank with the Active Rain Real Estate Network.
Have a great evening everyone...
Stella
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