I can hardly believe this. It is ridiculous. It is small-minded. And it is pathetic. Out of pique and spite, a North Texas city council has voted to get rid of their public library’s resident cat who has lived there for 6 years.
The only reason that I can see which is given is that the decision to get rid of the cat is a tit-for-tat vote after a city employee was forbidden to bring a puppy to work at City Hall. That’s the reason, we are told. If that is the reason then my introduction is correct. It is pathetic.
The cat’s name is Browser – good name for a library cat. The Council of the Fort Worth suburb of White Settlement voted 2 to 1 in favour of removing Browser from the library and gave the library 30 days to comply and to find a new home for him.
Browser was formerly a shelter cat and is quite definitely a fixture at the library. Cats at libraries are fantastically beneficial to the ambience of the library. They fit in so beautifully into the quiet, calm interior of libraries. They add to the ambience.
There have been petitions by children and a protest by the pulic against this move without success so far.
Councilman Clements said “City Hall and city businesses are no place for animals.” He is incorrect. I think you will find that employee productivity increases when there are companion animals on site in businesses.
Fans and supporters of Browser said that they will “petition for an election if we need to – we’ll take this to November [when there are elections]. I don’t think that will be any problem.”
The President of the Friends of the White Settlement Public Library, Lillian Blackburn, said:
“That cat has been loved by people of all ages for 6 years. I don’t have any animals. But this cat is so gentle and so lovable and he brings so much comfort to so many people, it seems like a shame to take him away.”
Browser has his own Facebook page and has acquired 618 signatures on a petition from library patrons.
Up until recent developments, there were no problems regarding Browser’s presence at the library. The council moderator who cannot vote, Mayor Ron White, says that it is pettiness which has brought on the vote which is unacceptable to the citizens of the community.
He said:
“That cat doesn’t have anything to do with whether somebody can have their puppy at City Hall. That cat doesn’t hurt anybody…The council just went out and did this on their own because they don’t like cats.”
On July 12 there will be a council meeting. At that time Browser’s removal will be 2 days short of the time limit of 30 days and Mayor White hopes that the council will reconsider the matter. If they don’t he makes the point that there will be an election coming up in November at which time the public will probably vote out those council members who have, through what appears to be a fit of pique, voted to remove the library cat.
Source: ABC News
I can’t understand the sheer stupidity & ignorance of some people. Must all politicians be that dense? I would love it if there was a cat at my local library. As a matter of fact .. I’d go just to see the cat!!! “IF” this cat is popular with people and they go to the library to see the cat … then why remove it? Leave the friggin cat where he is. Stop being a bunch of petty, immature idiots!!!!
I couldn’t put it better myself. I would be like you. If I knew that my library had a cat then I would visit the library to see the cat 😉
After all, it’s Texas, which should abdicate from our country entirely.
My thoughts exactly.
along with Florida
and “abdicate” is not the word you want
Thanks, Jim. I was groping for the right word. But, removing self or stepping down seemed to fit.
Do you have a better word?
Just proves people are idiots, especially many politicians!!!!
More stupidity from Texas. One cat can make a difference in the emotional lives of so many children and adults that are touched by their interaction with Browser. Removing this cat may have serious effects, especially on children, who don’t understand the political (and hateful) reasons behind it.
For some,the cat is probably the reason they go to the library. Such a shame. All because of an idiot with a dog. The dog is just a worker’s pet. The cat is the library’s and their trademark.