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Roos ‘N’ More Zoo In Moapa

	By Rachel Brandes Moapa Valley Progress Submitted May 9, 2008 Once upon a time Valerie Holt had a dream. To be a veterinarian at a zoo was something Holt knew she wanted to do from the time she was a child. Holt got her first job at the age of 13 in a veterinary clinic. “I never had another job” explained Holt. “I knew what I wanted to do and did it”. Holt and her husband Jay are both Veterinarians and own Animal Kindness Veterinary in Las Vegas. The Holts have lived in Las Vegas since 1990 and made the move to Moapa just two years ago. They purchased	An albino mother wallaby with her joey relaxing in the shade on a warm spring day at the Roos ‘n’ More Zoo in Moapa.
	3.5 acres in Moapa and began the process of designing an environment that would now play host to nearly 150 amazing creatures. The Holt’s zoo affectionately named Roos ‘N’ More obtained their USDA license just this past February and Holt is excited to share this great zoo with others. “We have had a couple of field trips so far,” said Holt. On Tuesday, March 25 the Moapa Valley High School special needs students, along with their peer models, took a field trip to the zoo. Teacher Bonnie Yamashita and teachers aides Teresa Lee and Patty Gurule were along as well. The group had a great time learning about the wide variety of animals at the Holt zoo.
	A female porcupine enjoys an apple treat at the Roos ‘n’ More Zoo in Moapa.	Among the animals are a half zebra-half donkey, a camel, a zebra, fainting goats, pot belly pigs, wallabies, many varieties of kangaroos, kinkachoos, porcupines, a sloth, a toucan, a hedgehog, chinchillas, six dogs, 13 cats including two munchkin cats, 17 vivariums full of different species, 18 varieties of beautiful birds, a coati mundi that rules the roost, a muntjac, and patagonian cavy. There are also three brush tail bettong at the zoo. The bettong is an endangered species which the Holts are breeding. There are two females and one male and the breeding has been
	very successful. Once the newborns are old enough they are given new homes in zoos in other cities. With all of the work at the zoo, Holt has employee Julie Jackson helping out full time. Jackson worked for two years at Animal Kindness and recently moved to Moapa Valley to work at the zoo. Jackson enjoys the animals and is a great help to Holt. “We are a work in progress,” said Holt. Holt would like to give educational tours by appointment. There are many things to learn, too many to list here, you have to see and feel to have the full experience. That is right, this zoo is a hands-on zoo. Visitors are able to pet the animals. How often can you go to the zoo and pet a sloth or a coati munde? The Holts have two children that also love animals. Zach is in the seventh grade and wants to be a Herpetologist when he grows up. Zach’s room is host to the 17 vivariums along with plenty of Tony Stewart memorabilia. Fifth grade Hailey houses the chinchillas in her room. Those interested in setting up an appointment for an educational field trip can contact Valerie Holt at 702-277-3963.