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March 28, 2024 6:57 am
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Roos N More Gets Help From Zappos, Still More To Go

By STEPHANIE BUNKER

Moapa Valley Progress

Roo’s n More Zoo has been going through challenges to stay open due to a code violation for septic system that will cost them and estimated $250,000 to install, according to Zoo owner Jay Holt. But after a major fundraising event held at Zappos in downtown Las Vegas, the local zoo may soon be seeing the light at the end of the tunnel.

On Saturday February 15 the Holts were able to raise the funds they believe are needed to make required improvements to the property and continue the business. About $151,000 was collected from ticket admissions and event sales at the Zappos zoo day event. Zappos had agreed to match those sales dollar for dollar up to $50,000. This gave the Holt’s a total of $201,000 leaving the zoo an estimated $50,000 short of what was needed. But Zappos pitched in another $50,000 donation to make up the difference.

Of course, putting on the event was a monumental undertaking. Taking the zoo to Zappos for those two days was not at all easy. Jay and Valerie Holt, along with a small army of volunteers. had to transport 86 zoo animals to downtown Las Vegas for the event.

“We had our concerns,” Jay Holt said. “We have never pulled off logistics like that before.”

It took caravans of trucks and trailers to get all of the animals to Zappos safely, Jay explained.

“Having that many people and coordinating them was a challenge,” he added. “But it was amazing! Everything went smoothly.”

The zoo has a total of 150 mammals and 100 birds and reptiles so they essentially transported 1/3 of the zoo to the people of Las Vegas.

Jay said that the money raised should be just enough to cover the construction of the commercial grade restroom building including a food prep room, septic system, and all the permits needed.

Although the money for that project has been raised, there are still other costly concerns just around the corner for Roo’s n More. Unfortunately they are not finished fundraising. There are still other peripheral projects needed that will cost the zoo a good deal of money to complete. These include a parking lot with handicap spots as well as the cost to keep the animals fed in the interim while the zoo is not able to be open to the public.

Holt said that it costs $1,100 a day to feed the animals and keep the zoo in working order. And the zoo can’t operate as it needs to until all the code violations have been fixed. Currently the Holt’s can still take scheduled groups of under 40 people on tours. But general admission passes cannot be sold.

To battle the fast rising cost of housing the animals, the Holt’s will continue to do fundraisers.

They have also seen a tremendous amount of volunteer efforts in their behalf. For example, the cast from a Las Vegas show, “The Evil Dead,” has come out to the zoo. Cast members have volunteered their time to help feed and clean up after the animals, Holt said. The same show has also been fundraising all month long to assist in operating costs. Other Las Vegas entities and shows have also been doing what they can to help out.

“Most of them have been here and they want to help keep it going,” Holt said.

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