Mass. zoo's cats benefit from Boston power loss

[March 17, 2012]  MENDON, Mass. (AP) -- The transformer fire that knocked out power to thousands of homes and businesses in Boston turned about to be a stroke of delicious luck for the big cats at a Massachusetts zoo.

The Capital Grille donated 2,500 pounds of steak worth $20,000 to the Southwick's Zoo in Mendon after the restaurant lost power on Tuesday and the prime cuts of meat were no longer fit for human consumption even though they were kept in a refrigerated truck.

The zoo's two Bengal tigers, an African lion and a leopard dined like kings on Thursday. And there are enough leftovers to feed the cats for weeks to come.

Zoo owner Betsey Brewer tells The Telegram & Gazette (http://bit.ly/wLPMtS) she was surprised and delighted by the out-of-the-blue offer.

About 21,000 customers lost power after the fire. Almost all customers were back online by Friday.

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Information from: Telegram & Gazette, http://www.telegram.com/

[Associated Press]

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