Tag Archives: Florida

The Friday Night Feeding of Lions and Tigers – No Bears

Family Life, Land Adventures, Travel Journal/Blog, , , , , , , , , , , ,

The Catty Shack, Jacksonville, Florida

I wasn’t quite sure what to expect of a place named The Catty Shack.  Visions of Bill Murray, moles and golf courses came to mind, but the spelling is ‘catty’ not ‘caddy’ shack. And its not about gossip. The Catty Shack is a rescue center for large cats like lions, tigers, leopards, cougars and panthers.  And it’s right here in my hometown– Jacksonville, Florida.

The newspaper announced a public fundraiser: A chance to watch the felines feast for fifteen dollars. Game on.

I gathered a friend and her daughter and drove over to the north side of town, not far from the airport. Directions said to look for a mailbox with a statue of a lion. We certainly weren’t in Kansas, no wheat fields around, rather a residential neighborhood. Do they really house 40 big cats in a normal suburban setting?  Oh my!

We entered though a security gate, then passed by a 15-foot-high stockade fence.  Ahead, as far as my eyes could see, were enclosures with large animals. First up was a lovely lion whose mane reminded me of the Cowardly beast in the Wizard of Oz.  Next to the lion was a scarecrow. No. A napping white Siberian tiger with the most gorgeous blue eyes and gigantic, supersized paws. His claws bespoke power; they were visceral weapons. Further along, three tigers frolicked  in a swimming pool. Really now, there’s no place like home.

These sleek felines looked professionally groomed; their coats were shiny and their nails clean. I later learned they are given vitamins with each feeding, once daily, of 10 to 25 pounds of beef, chicken, or fish.

Biggest question — How did these magnificent critters end up here?  Turns out a number of people obtain licenses to own large cats, but don’t maintain proper standards.  The state also confiscates for illegal ownership or maltreatment. They are moved to Catty Shack and once a kitty arrives, it stays for the rest of its life.  None are ever sold.

Curt LoGiudice, Executive Director/Curator or as I refer to him– Top Cat, has been running the sanctuary since its inception 25 years ago. He has a personal relationship with each animal, whom he refers to by name. Courageous Curt walks right into the enclosures with the feeding bowls.  And, let me tell you, these carnivores (sometimes weighing 500 pounds) are ominous. When they go after their food, the fur flies. Couldn’t miss the loud, guttural growl of one tiger, as he bared his saber teeth, to another yet-to-be fed, cage mate.

On the night I visited, dinner was a huge bowl of chicken legs and wings. The sound of the cats crunching their food is akin to the noise branches make when a tree falls. Imagine amplifying the Frito Bandito’s bite into a chip by about a thousand. You’ll remember the snap.

I turned to my friend and said, ” Watching and hearing these cats devour their meal is one of the strangest things we’ve done in a long time.”  And to this, my friend who parties at  Mardi Gras, rode donkeys on Santorini, and dogsledded with me- agreed.

If you live in the area, just ‘wiz’ on down the road to The Catty Shack Ranch Wildlife Sanctuary for the up-close adventure of a  Friday night feeding. You’ll support a worthwhile cause and as Tony the Tiger would say, “It’s grrrrrreat.”

Telephone 904 757-3603

 

Dinner!

Park Service Junior Rangers Defend the Fort in St. Augustine

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Touring Castillo de San Marcos National Monument

Entering Castillo de San Marcos National Monument
Entering Castillo de San Marcos National Monument

Got house guests? Bet you have a favorite place to share with out of town visitors. During my childhood days in Arlington, Virginia, we took friends and family to Mount Vernon.  When I moved near Philadelphia, the choice became the Liberty Bell or the Franklin Institute. Now that I reside in Jacksonville, Florida, I venture to nearby St. Augustine and tour a National Park site-Castillo de San Marcos.

St. Augustine, founded in 1565, holds the honor of being America’s oldest city and the fort (Castillo de San Marcos) remains the oldest fortification. Walls of coquina blocks (compressed shells) surround the bastion which has withstood numerous bombardments, sieges and hurricanes during its 335 year-old history.  Each time I return, I learn something new.

Recently I invited my two oldest grandchildren, RJ, age seven and Kyra who is five, and their Mom, while they were here for Camp Lander (their holidays to Florida).  RJ wanted to become a Park Service  Junior Ranger, which he would report to his Boy Scout troop, and Kyra wasn’t about to be ignored.

RJ and Kyra with the Park Service Ranger
RJ and Kyra with the Park Service Ranger

We entered the fortress via a drawbridge through the Sally Port, the only way in and out and passed below the portcullis. We stopped at the Ranger station and the kids were given an activity book to complete and return.

The booklet included a guided tour which pointed out the important artifacts in each area. To be completely honest, I wish they gave these brochures to everyone because the information proves very helpful.

RJ and Kyra had to fill in the blanks, answer true-false questions, match pictures of objects with corresponding parts and organize steps in the proper timeline. They also had to find and ask a volunteer and a Ranger questions about their job. Lastly, they wrote their own opinion about the place.

We watched a video, inspected supply rooms used for food storage, gunpowder, cannonballs, troop quarters, and the all important “necessary”.  We climbed up to the gun deck and saw canons and watchtowers, as well as enjoyed the view of the harbor.

When our self-guided tour was complete, we listened to an animated talk given by a Park Ranger in authentic Spanish dress. Then, the children submitted the completed booklets, their answers were checked and they were asked to take the Junior Ranger Pledge.

Taking the Jr Ranger Pledge
Taking the Jr Ranger Pledge

“I, (fill in name), am proud to be a National Park Service Junior Ranger. I promise to appreciate, respect, and protect all national parks. I also promise to continue learning about the landscape, plants, animals and history of these special places. I will share what I learn with my friends and family.”

The process was pretty impressive and elicited big smiles as they received their badges.  I’ll take that pledge,too, if I can become a Junior Ranger.

Then, we headed off for ice cream cones! What a joy for me, as a grandparent, to share my love of history and one of my favorite destinations.

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Junior Ranger programs are offered at about 286 of the 388 national parks, in collaboration with local school districts and community organizations. Go online to The Ranger Zone (http://www.nps.gov/learn/juniorranger.cfm) to check out individual parks for information about a specific program.

Debi within Castillo de San Marcos
Debi within Castillo de San Marcos

Mighty Duck Tales from the Peabody Hotel in Orlando

Family Life, Travel Journal/Blog, , , , , , , ,

Peabody Duck ParadeToday there is no need to prod, the fab five hop up the stairs, right into the water, splashing to the delight of onlookers.  The adults smile and laugh, appreciating this posh hotel’s whimsical shenanigans.

Dave Robinson thinks his job is just ducky, in fact, he claims it’s, “the best one at the hotel.”  No, he doesn’t play Donald at Disney World. Duck Master Dave leads a parade of mallards through the lobby of The Orlando Peabody Hotel, one of many Orlando hotels located on International Drive.

His duties include feeding and caring for these mascots: five mallards (1 drake and 4 females). Before twice daily processions, he lays red carpet from the elevator to the lobby fountain, and places a four-tiered step against the marble lip.  Then he reserves an elevator and rides up to the rooftop Royal Duck Palace, which is really an enlarged gazebo.

Dave enters their home and taps the floor with a brass (what else?) duck-headed cane. The flock waddles out.  Like cattle herders, Dave and the daily honorary Duck Master, round-up the brood, encouraging them into the elevator.

Assistant Laura stands guard, quarantining her fine feathered friends, while Dave calls the desk to report preparations are complete.

A crowd gathers in the lobby and an announcer recounts the hotel history, and then starts a recording of Sousa’s King Cotton March.  The ducks hear the music; see the red carpet, which they associate with food, and proudly promenade.  They strut round the corner and down the path, like movie stars on the famed Hollywood walk.

The lone male doesn’t necessarily command the lead or rear position.  The ducks put themselves in a row.

Mr. Mallard steals the show, posing for children and parents like a professional model.  He seems to bask in his golden opportunity.Duck Master Dave

The parade started as a joke, back in 1930, at the original Memphis Peabody Hotel.  General Manager, Frank Schutt and a hunting buddy returned from a weekend trip, imbibing a little too much Tennessee whiskey.  They thought it would be funny to place their live decoys (legal at the time) in the sumptuous fountain.  They received such enthusiastic reviews, the ducks became a tradition.

When the lobby guests disperse, Dave cleans any dropping on the rugs and rolls them up.  I ask, “Have you ever had to go on any wild goose chases, so to speak?”

“Oh yes,” Dave says, “we had to send one fella back to the farm, for more lessons.  He liked to wander the hotel.”

Each team trained from birth, works for three years; six months on, then 6 months R & R, before being retired.

When Laura and I pass through the lobby an hour later, we find no sitting ducks but sleeping ducks.  Ahh, life as it’s quaked up to be.

If you go:

All three Peabody Hotels parade live ducks to their fountains at 11AM and 5 PM.  The opulent hotels in Memphis, TN, Orlando, FL and Little Rock, AK use a subtle duck logo on their linens, toiletries and napkins.  The gift shop is a haven for fowl items.  Their elegant restaurant, called Dux, serves no canard (duck).

The four-star Peabody Orlando is directly across from the Convention Center.

9801 International Drive, 407 352-4000 or www.peabodyorlando.com.