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RKP5637

(67,111 posts)
Fri Aug 1, 2014, 10:15 AM Aug 2014

Cat Waits At Bus Stop, Rides the Bus Routinely

Cute!!!!

http://www.care2.com/causes/cat-waits-at-bus-stop-rides-the-bus-routinely.html

A 15-year-old ginger cat, Artful Dodger, is more than living up to his name. Last month’s Telegraph reports that Dodger has been taking rides on the bus, after boarding at a bus stop near his home. Sometimes he sits on passengers’ laps; he also likes to sit on seats that have been recently vacated, apparently for their warmth.

Dodger’s owner, Fee Jeanes, says that he initially started to frequent the bus stop as people gave him scraps food. But then the bus itself became the attraction; like greenhouses, they are sunny and warm, says Jeanes in the Telegraph. Dodger has gone on ten mile round-trips. Jeanes says that her daughter’s friends had indeed seem him on the bus that far away:

“I couldn’t believe it and panicked. I got into my car to go off and look for him and then at that moment the bus pulled up near our house and low and behold he got off.

“He had fallen asleep on board and nobody knew about it. When the driver realised he knew who Dodger was and where he lived and kept him on board.

“That afternoon I saw Dodger climb on board another bus and I rushed to tell the driver.

“I was shocked when she told me Dodger was always on there…”

The bus company, First, spoke in welcoming tones about Dodger riding the bus and have only asked the drivers not to feed him, out of concern that Dodger might prefer the bus over home for food and shelter. A company spokesman did say that “in principle we do not have a problem with it being around the bus station,” even adding that

“Given this cat is elderly we suspect it would be eligible for free travel, perhaps a bus puss, if such a thing existed.”

Dodger seems to have made himself quite a fixture on the bus, sometimes even waiting in the middle of the road for the bus to stop.

Pity that more people (at least here in the US) don’t see the benefits of public transportation as much as the Artful Dodger does.
16 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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Cat Waits At Bus Stop, Rides the Bus Routinely (Original Post) RKP5637 Aug 2014 OP
Squee! shenmue Aug 2014 #1
We really never know our cat's mind. Curmudgeoness Aug 2014 #2
Beat me to the post Omaha Steve Aug 2014 #3
Lovely post, RKP5637. littlemissmartypants Aug 2014 #4
Sadly, Something Art could not Dodge packman Aug 2014 #5
Thanks for the update! That, was a very very special kitty! RKP5637 Aug 2014 #6
Can we vote an award of some sort for the company spokesman who spoke of granting the cat…. Demoiselle Aug 2014 #7
Thanks for that, I needed a good laugh this morning, too cute!! n/t DocwillCuNow Aug 2014 #8
"Whisper of the Heart" ThoughtCriminal Aug 2014 #9
... RKP5637 Aug 2014 #10
pic Duppers Aug 2014 #11
Incredible! Super cute!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Such an intelligent and wise looking kitty! n/t RKP5637 Aug 2014 #12
Excellent cat and people. riqster Aug 2014 #13
I'm sure glad my old cat never heard demigoddess Aug 2014 #14
How incredible! Enthusiast Aug 2014 #15
Yes, cats are very special little people. I had one that devoted his life to me for years, we RKP5637 Aug 2014 #16

Curmudgeoness

(18,219 posts)
2. We really never know our cat's mind.
Fri Aug 1, 2014, 07:45 PM
Aug 2014

So funny that the bus drivers all knew him and the owner was shocked.

A "bus puss"! The bus company spokesperson certainly has a good sense of humor.

 

packman

(16,296 posts)
5. Sadly, Something Art could not Dodge
Sat Aug 2, 2014, 10:52 AM
Aug 2014

Feb. 24, 2012


Pet cat Dodger has died just months after he shot to fame for his tendency to wander off and ride buses around Dorset. His distraught owner Fee Jeanes has had to have him put down after he became ill with a tumour. Dodger gained worldwide attention after tales of his antics catching the buses around Dorset and Devon first appeared in the local press last December. He featured in papers, on TV and in websites worldwide as well as glossy magazines. Pet food company Whiskas even sent him a big parcel of goodies.


Fee added: “Dodger had a good life. He was a brilliant cat and was spoiled rotten.

“I know a lot of people are going to be very disappointed and saddened that Dodger has gone.”

Dodger shot to stardom after living up to his namesake, the Artful Dodger, by cadging scraps of food and free bus trips around Dorset at the bus station in Bridport.

He used to hop on and off buses, sit on passengers’ laps as they waited and devour old sandwiches left in the station.

Fee said that she used to hear from people all the time asking after Dodger or telling of their encounters with him.

Fee said that she took Dodger to the vet's with a stomach tumour before Christmas before finally having to make the heartbreaking decision to put him down.

Fee, who has put a notice up at the bus station, said: “He made a lot of people happy. The response to him was amazing.”

Dodger has been buried in a special part of the garden where his memory will be kept alive.




http://www.blackmorevale.co.uk/Final-journey-bus-riding-cat-Dodger/story-15308661-detail/story.html






Demoiselle

(6,787 posts)
7. Can we vote an award of some sort for the company spokesman who spoke of granting the cat….
Sat Aug 2, 2014, 03:46 PM
Aug 2014

.."a Bus Puss?"
I'm sorry Artful is no longer with us…but he had a lovely and interesting life!

demigoddess

(6,641 posts)
14. I'm sure glad my old cat never heard
Tue Aug 5, 2014, 01:35 PM
Aug 2014

about this kind of thing. It was bad enough that he got into strangers' cars and sometimes houses. He loved to visit people. Once we lost him for a few days, never did figure out where he might have been during that time. He was awfully happy the night he came home.

RKP5637

(67,111 posts)
16. Yes, cats are very special little people. I had one that devoted his life to me for years, we
Tue Aug 5, 2014, 07:21 PM
Aug 2014

were inseparable.

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