Little Boy's Stuffed Animal Birthday Party Benefits Beardsley Zoo

MADISON, CT — The giraffe and penguin may have been plush toys, and the only real animal in attendance was the family dog, but Mario D’Antonio's "Turning Two at the Zoo" party this week was every bit as special as the birthday bash his family had planned before the state's coronavirus lockdown closed the Beardsley Zoo to visitors.

But lockdown or not, you only turn two once.

"Marino was excited to turn two at the Zoo," says his mother Amy D’Antonio in a news release from Beardsley Zoo, which is highlighting the ways its youngest fans, like Mario, are keeping their love of animals strong even from afar.

And according to Amy, it was Mario's six-year-old brother Massimo who came up with the idea to throw an outdoor zoo party at their home, complete with stuffed animals, signs and even guests — although the attendees had to communicate their congratulations from the safety of their cars while waving and honking at the birthday boy.

"We decided to bring the Zoo to him," D’Antonio said.

But the zoo wasn't just a fun theme for kid's party. It was an opportunity to give back. In lieu of gifts, the family asked their friends and relatives to donate to Beardsley Zoo, eventually raising $585 for the Zoo's emergency operation fund.

"One of the great joys of working at Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo for forty years has been the number of children and families I see here, spending time together and learning to love animals and wildlife," said Zoo Director Gregg Dancho in a statement. "It’s hard to have the Zoo closed, both financially and because we miss our guests, especially the little children. We’re so grateful to the D’Antonio family for their efforts on behalf of the animals."

Last week, Beardsley Zoo launched its "Do You Have a Zoo at Your House?" initiative, which is aimed at families and children who, like Mario, are likely missing their furry zoo friends. Instead, the Zoo is asking kids to send letters to their favorite animals and zookeepers, as well as photos of how "they've made their home into a Zoo."

Do you have a message for your favorite critter? Is your house a zoo? You can send evidence of your quarantine tigers and any other exotic species to info@beardsleyzoo.org.

So far, the results have been adorable.