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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsThis Library Cat Was Fired, And It's Tearing His Town Apart
Last edited Thu Jun 30, 2016, 04:10 AM - Edit history (1)
Source: Huffington Post, 29/06/2016
The city is evicting Browser the cat -- against the wishes of library staff.
Getting fired is always hard but its even worse if it means getting evicted, too.
Thats whats happening to Browser, a sweet gray cat who has inhabited the public library in White Settlement, Texas, (yeah, thats really the name) for more than five years. Despite Browser being beloved by library workers and patrons, the White Settlement City Council voted last week that Browser had to go.
I dont think therell be any problem finding a home for Browser, said Lillian Blackburn, president of Friends of the White Settlement Public Library, noting that multiple people have already offered to take him. But he will not have a home like this.
The library originally adopted Browser from the animal shelter to help it deal with a mouse problem, Blackburn told The Huffington Post. But the animal soon became a quirky fixture of the place, with an uncanny ability to detect if someone is a cat person.
Hes there if you want him to be there, Blackburn said. And if you dont want him to touch you or go near you, he doesnt. Hes also a big draw for kids, she added.
But an item appeared on the June 14 city council agenda addressing the relocation of the Library Facility cat.
City Hall and City businesses are no place for animals, said council member Elzie Clements, according to the Grizzly Detail. Mayor Ron White spoke in favor of keeping the cat, as did eight audience members. And a petition for Browser remaining had more than 600 signatures. (Since the story has been in the media, a second online petition for keeping Browser has emerged.) But the council nevertheless voted 2-1 to boot Browser, giving him 30 days to find a new place to live.
That makes his eviction date July 14. However, White wants the council to reconsider the decision at a meeting scheduled for July 12.
Browser the library cat keeps in touch with his fans via his Facebook page.
Browser has lived in the library for more than five years.
The city council voted 2-1 to kick Browser out of the library.
Read more: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/browser-library-cat_us_5772ddfbe4b0eb90355ca483
Source: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxMXl9L79X1Mq_4iwCOyPFg
Browser's FB page: https://www.facebook.com/browserthecat/
Petition: Please help Browser the library cat!
https://www.change.org/p/mayor-ron-white-please-help-browser-the-library-cat?recruiter=72355934&utm_source=petitions_share&utm_medium=copylink
Elsie the Library Cat @ the St Helena Public Library
Source: https://au.pinterest.com/pin/480688960200400906/
https://www.facebook.com/ElsieTheLibraryCat/
Dewey Readmore Books (d'd.) @ the Spencer Public Library in Spencer, Iowa
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dewey_Readmore_Books
pinboy3niner
(53,339 posts)progressoid
(49,991 posts)Library Girl finds a way back in.
pinboy3niner
(53,339 posts)progressoid
(49,991 posts)Rhiannon12866
(205,467 posts)La Lioness Priyanka
(53,866 posts)Rhiannon12866
(205,467 posts)But she preceded them all!
La Lioness Priyanka
(53,866 posts)Plus dtg.
Rhiannon12866
(205,467 posts)It's totally beyond me, but they keep coming back...
La Lioness Priyanka
(53,866 posts)I found pics of my stalker and his daughter on Facebook though. Sad that a guy who used A sigaint email address could so easily be found. Not sad really mostly kinda amusing
Rhiannon12866
(205,467 posts)They make the old ones look almost harmless. These are scary times...
pinboy3niner
(53,339 posts)vlakitti
(401 posts)Yay and Yay!
La Lioness Priyanka
(53,866 posts)Warpy
(111,270 posts)and Browser's banishment will be a temporary one.
Aerows
(39,961 posts)It's dumb. Browser keeps the mouse population away, is friendly and the only people that want to make an issue of it are the idiots on the council.
It seems like people sometimes look for excuses to upset the damn apple cart.
Melurkyoulongtime
(136 posts)And kickety!
AllTooEasy
(1,260 posts)rpannier
(24,329 posts)There used to be two settlements in the area... Indian Settlement (where the Native Americans lived) where Ft Worth is today and White Settlement (where the white people lived) where White Settlement sits
It was a way of distinguishing the two places at the time.
It wasn't a city until 1941
kentauros
(29,414 posts)Texas is just big enough to have a bigger share of them (my favorite is "Whon" )
[font size="4"]White Settlement is an incorporated residential community just off Interstate Highway 820 at the western edge of Fort Worth in west central Tarrant County. In the early 1850s the name White Settlement referred to the small number of isolated farms and one or two trading posts that were scattered west of Fort Worth, reaching to the Parker county line through hostile Indian territory. In the later part of the 1850s an organized community named White Settlement gradually developed around the homesteads of three brothers from TennesseeElijah, David, and Joseph Farmer. The Farmers were joined by Kentuckian Paul Isbell, who moved to the area with his slaves. In 1860 Isbell played a prominent role in the hanging of two men that he believed were responsible for organizing a slave insurrection. After the Civil War White Settlement remained a frontier outpost, but once the threat of Indian attack was removed, it began to grow. It had a post office from 1866 until sometime in the 1870s. In the 1880s the community was bypassed by the railroads. White Settlement began an extended period of growth in the early 1940s, and by the mid-1950s its population had reached 10,000. The town incorporated in 1941. Among the catalysts for this growth were the establishment of Carswell Air Force Base, activated by the United States Army in July 1942; the development of industry in Fort Worth; and the construction of the Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport. This growth spurred the development of a number of bedroom communities near Dallas and Fort Worth, among them White Settlement. In 1990 the population of White Settlement peaked at 15,472; in 2000 the community had 14,831 inhabitants.[/font]
[font size="2"]BIBLIOGRAPHY:
Janet L. Schmelzer, Where the West Begins: Fort Worth and Tarrant County (Northridge, California: Windsor, 1985). Tarrant County Historic Resources Survey: Principal Findings and Resource Characteristics (Fort Worth: Historic Preservation Council for Tarrant County, 1982).[/font]
Handbook of Texas Online, David Minor, "White Settlement, TX"[/font]
rpannier
(24,329 posts)Small towns have loooooooooooooooooong memories
Albertoo
(2,016 posts)rusty quoin
(6,133 posts)I'm sure many will do the same, though the move will be confusing for him.
I will compare it to corporations in the past closing down companies. It does not feel good to the people who worked there for years.
Bernardo de La Paz
(49,002 posts)raven mad
(4,940 posts)UNIONIZE WORKING KITTIES.
(I really hate that people are such idiots.) Heck, there's a resident cat in half the small businesses in this entire borough, and our travelling kitty has been to Prudhoe Bay, Anchorage, Wasilla, Girdwood, Seward, Valdez, across Hatcher Pass, up and down the Richardson and Steese Highways (in her harness and on a leash) and gets invited into restaurants................. Pre-travelling kitty, we were on a motorcycle and stopped at a lodge near Kluane Lake in the Yukon Territory - soaked, it had rained all day, before the Alcan was paved in that area, mud everywhere............ decided, heck, we'll spring for a room. Hosed off most of the mud and the cutest young lady showed us the room (shower down the hall). Opened the door and a gorgeous gray kitty was sitting on the dresser right next to the door. MEEEEEEOW! (Him: Hi sweet kitty. Me: Oh, you're just gorgeous).............
Yep, cats know their "people".
Mayor Stubbs:
Travelling Kitty (Sugar):
And how many neat little kids would be fascinated by kitty and want to read more about them?
yellowdogintexas
(22,264 posts)We have had a trade a book store with 2 kitties named Simon and Schuster. They were found in the alley, on a rainy day while the bookstore was being prepped for the move in. They were minor celebrities in town. The store closed due to owner illness and cats went home with one of the employees
There is a garden center with 3 cats. The owner also brings his rat terriers in with him every morning.
The Ace hardware which used to be near us had a gorgeous black and grey tabby
All these cats were sweet and friendly; no one complained. The businesses were all in my section of the city; I am fairly sure there are others around - Ft Worth is a fairly large town.
We have 5 cats in our house. Of these 5, only one would be suitable for living in such a public place. He is the only one who just sits on the sofa when someone comes in the house; the others lay low until they decide it is safe to come out. One of them never does.
I may have to mosey over to White Settlement and pet that cat while he is still there.
Rhiannon12866
(205,467 posts)yellowdogintexas
(22,264 posts)Rhiannon12866
(205,467 posts)Aerows
(39,961 posts)sweet pea kitten is smarter than the vast majority of people.
Stargleamer
(1,989 posts)of which Dewey, who was a library cat for a number of years, is perhaps the most famous: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dewey_Readmore_Books
St. Helena Public Library has Elsie for a while now without any problems: https://www.facebook.com/ElsieTheLibraryCat/
There are probably other library kitties as well. I don't see why Browser can't remain one if there hasn't been any problems so far.
Little Tich
(6,171 posts)Stargleamer
(1,989 posts)http://flavorwire.com/311716/famous-and-fabulous-library-cats/3
http://flavorwire.com/311716/famous-and-fabulous-library-cats/4
http://flavorwire.com/311716/famous-and-fabulous-library-cats/5
http://flavorwire.com/311716/famous-and-fabulous-library-cats/6
http://flavorwire.com/311716/famous-and-fabulous-library-cats/7
http://flavorwire.com/311716/famous-and-fabulous-library-cats/8
http://flavorwire.com/311716/famous-and-fabulous-library-cats/9
http://flavorwire.com/311716/famous-and-fabulous-library-cats/10
http://flavorwire.com/311716/famous-and-fabulous-library-cats/11
http://flavorwire.com/311716/famous-and-fabulous-library-cats/12
Several, like St. Helena P.L.'s Elsie, have their own blogspot or Facebook sites!
Oh, and I love the pic you posted of Elsie!
Here is a Facebook page collecting sigs for Browser: https://www.facebook.com/browserthecat/
Little Tich
(6,171 posts)LarryNM
(493 posts)city businesses for the likes of Elzie Clements.
MADem
(135,425 posts)The cat solves a problem without poisons or the expense of having Dale Gribble come to do the work.
That's the cat's territory, and he's going to take care of it.
I hate stupid people--the cat isn't hurting anyone.
rpannier
(24,329 posts)Sounds like the 2 members who voted for eviction are in violation of this
Population is about 16k
What I don't understand is why this isn't voted on by the whole of the council. There are 5 members and the Mayor
Maybe they'll all vote on the 12th
That's what the cat is there for, it doesn't bother people, it's just an excuse to make a mountain out of a molehill.
tblue37
(65,403 posts)a less tabby looking face.
Lucy is a bold and mischievous 6-year-old. She and Browser are probably very close in age.
Tom Kitten
(7,347 posts)maybe starring Margaret Hamilton as Elzie Clements
rpannier
(24,329 posts)She could play a variety of roles well
Jane Darwell was another very talented actress who could play the villain well -- she was great in the Oxbow Incident
For some reason whenever I think/see Ms. Hamilton or Ms. Darwell I also think of the other
IrishEyes
(3,275 posts)They have a cat that isn't hurting anyone, making people happy, hunting mice and bringing good publicity to a town that most people have never heard of.
So they are getting rid of the cat which has caused nothing but bad publicity for their town. People all over the world will now remember this town only as the town that evicted a cute cat from his home. They must have some other issues or problems in their town that they could work on. Perhaps, finding a new town name might be the first issue.
I'm sure that there are a lot of kids and adults who really like going to the library to see Browser. He probably helps bring people to the library. This makes no sense.
left-of-center2012
(34,195 posts)The catnip type, of course.
peace13
(11,076 posts)Cat dander travels everywhere. Imagine taking the books to the counter to check out, just the spot where the cat loves to lay so people can pet and love on him. Now as you get in the car you forget that you have touched the books and rub your eye. Now your eye itches and then your nose begins to drip and if you have asthma you begin to wheeze just slightly and before you know it you have a problem. It doesn't stop there. The books become unusable because every time you touch them the process repeats itself.
Imagine going to reading circle with your child who is allergic to cats. Sitting on the carpet you realize that there is a cat in the building because suddenly your child is having trouble breathing. You can grab your child and leave but the symptoms don't stop there. It can take days to recover from this cat encounter. The attack has caused the mucus to thicken in her lungs and now your child has an upper respiratory infection. A trip to the doctor, a trip to the hospital, who knows where it will take you.
Cats are beautiful, smart and good company but they do make some people violently ill.
LisaL
(44,973 posts)These people might very well have cats.
They could be touching their cats then reading the books.
I mean, seriously-do you expect that people who take library books home keep them in pristine condition? These books are most likely have already been exposed to cats.
If you are that allergic that touching the book exposed to cats will make you sick, buy new ones instead of reading library books.
peace13
(11,076 posts)Cat dander does not need to be at the library check out counter. Everyone has a right to use the library. Seriously, we can think about others once in a while! If you want cat on your book why don't you buy the books. Many book stores have cats.....which is why I use the library.
LisaL
(44,973 posts)Again, if you are getting a library book, how do you know it hasn't been exposed to cats already? A lot of people have cats at home.
Cats could have been sleeping on top of it for all you know.
peace13
(11,076 posts)It is not selfish to ask that public buildings don't house animals that people could be allergic to. I think your comment is totally uncalled for. Enough.
yellowdogintexas
(22,264 posts)they know the books are important to us. All cats hone in like radar on The Important Thing in the room.
lonestarnot
(77,097 posts)Javaman
(62,530 posts)they will disappoint you every time.
Odin2005
(53,521 posts)Adrahil
(13,340 posts)Both are the better off because of the other.
liberalla
(9,249 posts)lonestarnot
(77,097 posts)niyad
(113,336 posts)City of White Settlement
Address: 214 Meadow Park Drive
White Settlement, TX 76108
Phone: (817) 246-4971
niyad
(113,336 posts)Both Blackburn and Mayor White say the vote was petty revenge for a different city employee not being allowed to bring a dog to work.
WinkyDink
(51,311 posts)liberalla
(9,249 posts)I will add, browser is a cutie! love his nose...
astral
(2,531 posts)Sad as this situation is, people should be considered before animals. I love cats too, and while not generally allergic myself, I have had violent allergic reactions to a rare cat here and there. Once I invited a cat to jump on my lap while in a meeting where there happened to be a cat, I proceeded to pet him and sneeze, my eyes watered and burned and itched, my arms got all itchy and I had to leave the room. People looked at me like, well why did you pick up the cat if you're allergic? But I had no idea that would happen, I had owned cats I wasn't allergic to.
A public library is a public building, ignoring allergic people is discrimination in a bigger way than men who want to use the little girls' room or someone who takes offense at seeing a kid with a Bible on school property. Handicapped access is required so everyone can get inside, but people who are allergic to cats? Too bad, so sad. People get all up in arms about some issues but not other issues that carry the same impact.
I wish libraries could all have cats if they want, but I respect people's right to access to the public library -- ALL people.
I'd rather the cat could stay too, but facts are facts, and popular opinion isn't always fair or right.