We Call The Ride “Amy’s Ride For The Animals”

By: John Birk

Back in 2006, it was a senior zookeeper at the zoo who really added so much to the mission of helping the animals of Miami Metro Zoo. Her name was Amy Neill. Amy had worked at the zoo since 2001, and had made quite a name for herself in a relatively short time. She was super enthusiastic, had a true love for the animals of the zoo and specifically for the giraffes she was in charge of, and was herself a motorcycle rider. In the first ride, Amy rode up front with us on her Harley-Davidson Buell. Amy was 29 years old and was talented in any number of athletic activities.

Her enthusiasm was contagious, and her quest for a Giraffe Squeeze (containment cage) was very apparent. We were enthusiastic then as we are now, but the success of the event has a somewhat bitter taste. In December of 2006, on her way to work, Amy was involved in a traffic accident that took her life. She was only 29 years old.

As it happened, I was on another benefit ride at the time, and when my girlfriend Suzanne called with the news we were both terribly saddened by her passing. A memorial was held at the zoo, at which Suzanne and I spoke. We announced at the memorial that we decided to change the name of the ride, then known as the Ride For The Animals to “Amy’s Ride For The Animals”. We also displayed a new banner for the ride that had Amy’s name on it. We also promised that for the second year of the ride in 2007 that we would double the amount of money raised by the first year’s ride in her honor. We are proud to say that we did just that.

When you visit the giraffe exhibit at the zoo, you’ll see a plaque located there in her memory. She was an inspiration to know, and I know her family was very proud of her. Last year we could not have Amy ride in the front, but we did ask her boyfriend to ride on her behalf. He also is a motorcycle rider and works at the zoo as well. With his support, we will have him again for this year’s ride.

While Amy is gone from this world, her memory, her love for the animals of the zoo and her spirit live on. We are honored to have known her.

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