WHAT SUPPORTERS HAVE TO SAY
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In late May 2006 we asked recent patrons to take a brief moment to provide some feedback about their experiences at the park. Their responses to each question are below:
What do you perceive we do well?
What would encourage you to support us in the future?
We believe that Black Pine is an important place in our community. That we can take our children to see, (pardon the pun),"lions and tigers and bears" practically in our own back yard is incredible. There is a much more intimate feeling at Black Pine than say......the Fort Wayne Children's Zoo.
I’m an animal lover, and I believe taking in and caring for retired or unwanted animals is a cause worthy of support.
We have bought annual memberships for several years now, even if we don’t get many/any opportunities to visit over a very busy summer. We just recently increased our donation because we believe in what you do, and felt we were in a position at this time to support you better. We also attended your recent fund raiser, and the pre-show “meet Jack” event.
I think it is pretty amazing to see wild animals in small town Indiana!
Black Pine has always cared about the animals. The animals come first, which includes human awareness. If it wasn't for Black Pine many of the animals would not have a safe home to retire to.
Last year I discovered the park while looking for a place to have a get together with family…My children and I decided to visit and the kids love it. Even though it doesn't have all the commercialized stuff like the zoo, the kids enjoy visiting and seeing the animals and I cannot remember the last time we visited the zoo. My family has a love for animals and I think the kids really like the fact that the animals have been rescued and are being taken care of. So overall, we support the park because of our love for animals and the reason why the park is in existence it to take care of animals that need it.
A lot of hard work and sacrifice go into a project like yours. We all benefit from it. Plus the history behind so many of the animals makes it very interesting.
I love all animals and wish I could do more to help them. If I lived closer, I would be there every day to be with the big cats and all the other animals.
I greatly enjoy the park and all that it has to offer.
I LOVE the small up close and personal atmosphere!
I think it is a great thing that Black Pine does rescuing animals in need and having a home retired performers can live out the rest of their lives in peace. Also educating the public and children on why exotic ownership is not a good idea. You have many examples to give on this subject with your residents.
Because you provide a home for many different types of exotic animals. I like the fact that you are in Albion and I don't have to drive to Fort Wayne to be able to go to a zoo.
What do you perceive we do well?
As it should be, the care of animals is what Black Pine does best. It does not matter that there are not paved walking paths, a big fancy gift shop, refreshment stands everywhere. What matters is that the animals are cared for in an appropriate manner.
[You are] providing homes for animals that would otherwise be put down, and educating people via the feeding tours.
We appreciate that you give no-longer-wanted animals a place to live out their lives, and provide an educational experience to children as well.
I think the guided tours are great and I love to watch the big cats eat. The most amazing thing I ever saw was when one of the tigers jumped on the fence and caught his/her meal in mid-air as it was tossed over!
The safety of the animals has always come first! I know that this will still be the case. I know without hesitation that this will be first priority and what ever decision is made it will be in the best interest of the animals.
I think one of the best things done at the park is how close visitors are able to get so they can see the animals. The explanations on the tours and feeding tours are great and informative. My two daughters were also just involved in the Zoo Crew project and plan to attend the fall session. They loved helping the animals and learning while they were doing it.
The good loving care the animals receive…The cleanliness of the park...The natural feel of the habitats…Interesting tours.
You all take great care and love each animal that comes in there. You all do a great job.
Great client interaction and education to those that visit, very friendly staff!
So the animals now, and in the future, have a safe home.
I think you provide great care to the animals as well as keeping up the grounds. I also think you do a good job at having different events there for a wide variety of ages.
What would encourage you to support us in the future?
As long as Black Pine remains true to it's roots and does not try to become more than it was intended to be (a sanctuary for animals), we will continue to lend our support. The important arguments to have are the ones where the best interests of the animals are the topic. Even if Black Pine could not find a place where the general public was able to visit regularly, we would still support the park.
Just keep doing what you’re doing! Great job!
Just keep doing what you do best. In general, to help your revenues, you need to provide more to do for the daily tours. The feeding tour is always enjoyed, but the earlier tours (from the one we were on several years ago) just didn’t pack enough interest for many people. You may have changed that in recent years, since we haven’t been on an earlier day tour for some time. I would love to help out in working there from time to time get things that you need, like the wish list you put out. Money-wise I don’t have a lot to give out but I would give if I had some to give.
Keep up the good work. We have moved from Fort Wayne to Indianapolis and have not been able to visit in about a year or so. I do still think about those animals though. Perhaps you should advertise the park a little more to get the word out better. That is my only suggestion.
I have always had faith in Black Pine. The love and caring everyone gives to the animals and each other I know will not change. I only wished I lived closer so I could volunteer and spend regular time at the park and show my continuous support!
If you continue as you are at a new location, we would still support the park. The only thing I could think of in the new location is expanding it so that the park was a little larger and the park was able to seek out a wider variety of animals to rescue. The exotic cat collection of animals at your park is fantastic. Possibly making rescue efforts to other kinds of animals might be cool. Sometimes it's a little harder to see the camel, llamas or other animals in the large field except for the ones that come to the fence. I don't know if there would be a way to get those animals closer to view. But again, we would still be supportive if you stayed the same because we believe in what you are doing.
Continue the good work you have always done.
YES!!! [We will support you in the future.]
I hope that you will find a re-location in the same area or closer to Huntington.
That all continues as is but with improves to enrich lives.
To continue doing what you are doing and probably just continuing to grow if room allows.