FINALLY FREEDOM FOR HOLLY!!!

Please read the following entry posted on September 2, 2008:


Charles Hennessey aka Parks and Recreation Commission Chairman,

I think you have been drinking Hennessey to list "Zoo improvements to include the Big Cat and Concession facilities" as an accomplishment on the Amarillo Parks web site. I visited your Big Cat Improvement this past Sunday and it's a far cry from anything accomplished. How in the heck is the tiger's home smaller than the "mustangs"? In fact it's about the same size as the potbellied pig's excuse for a living space. That tiger needs room to run, climb, jump and pounce. I have never seen a creature so miserable. He paced, he cried, he looked up at me with those big green eyes and said, "GET ME THE HELL OUTTA HERE. THIS CAGE IS FRIGGIN TINY!" I swear to you Chuck, IF YOU DON'T SET THAT TIGER FREE, I WILL.

Grace Calvert


AND NOW THE ARTICLE I FOUND TODAY ON AMARILLO.COM:

A rapid health decline led to the death of the Amarillo Zoo’s Bengal tiger, Holly, over the weekend.

Consulting veterinarian Dr. Merton Pearson euthanized the 19-year-old tiger on Saturday after it was determined her condition would continue to worsen, Zoo Curator Rhonda Votino said.

“It was a very difficult decision, but her quality of life had deteriorated to a point where we felt it was the most humane alternative,” Votino said.

Zoo staff had taken the 225-pound cat off exhibit last week so her condition could be monitored after she began experiencing an onslaught of seizures.

Initial results of a necropsy included discovery of a possible thyroid tumor that may be unrelated to the cause of her seizures, which could have originated from problems in the brain, Votino said.

Exotic cats typically live 10 to 15 years in the wild and 15 to 20 years in captivity, Votino said.

THINGS I HAVE LEARNED THIS SUMMER

The empty field I wondered about all winter is milo. Welcome back, allergies of 6th grade! Good to sneeze you again.

The empty field I wondered about all winter is milo watered with sewage water. Nothin' like takin' a fresh breath of air when THAT sprinkler comes around.

My sister is an Aggie and I wish she was a Buff or even a Badger but she is most definitely an Aggie.

Little girls are the most amazing, fantastic, loving wonders of the world.

Murders happen in Dumas. Therefore, I am going to learn to shoot a pistol....and Taylor Swift's face is going to be my target practice.

Sibling Day can't come soon enough.

Charlie Pride is an African American. Charlie Pride is 71.

No wine will ever beat Mrs. Kim Crawford. Good try Marlborough, but Cupcake just didn't get 'er done.

The Dixie Chicken is almost as cool as the Golden Light Cantina.

Justin is the kindest, strongest, most wonderful person I know.

Cody and Leah Leifer are soul mates.

No matter what you do in life, you will always always always face some sort of obstacle or adversity or test.

Want a true reflection of yourself? Look deep into your child's eyes. Is she caring? Is she kind? Is she compassionate? Then you are these things too.

And finally as Kenney and Dave say:

So damn easy to say that life's so hard
Everybody's got their share of battle scars
As for me I'd like to thank my lucky stars that
I'm alive and well

It'd be easy to add up all the pain
And all the dreams you've sat and watch go up in flames
Dwell on the wreckage as it smolders in the rain
But not me... I'm alive

And today you know that's good enough for me
Breathing in and out's a blessing can't you see
Today's the first day of the rest of my life
And I'm alive and well
I'm alive and well

Stars are dancin' on the water here tonight
It's good for the soul when there's not a soul in sight
This motor's caught its wind and brought me back to life
Now I'm alive and well

And today you know that's good enough for me
Breathing in and out's a blessing can't you see
Today's the first day of the rest of my life
Now I'm alive and well
Yeah I'm alive and well