Currently for consideration by the Pulaski County Library Board is removal of Belle the cat who has resided at the Dublin Library in Dublin, Virginia for 3 years. Belle was surrendered to the Animal Shelter in 2005 and was selected by the humane society as the perfect library cat because she was so gentle and loved people picking her up and petting her.
Concerns by board members range from verbal complaints over the last 3 years (1 citizen complaint of allergies and 1 citizen complaint of a child handling the cat improperly and being scratched), the "what if" someone sued do to injury caused by Belle and placed a burden on the county (but it was verified that liability insurance is in place and that no boad member could be personally sued), and that Belle may have scratched a couch that has been in the library since the library opened (it was later noted by staff that some damage was due to dry rot due to years of sun exposure), that Belle is left alone in the library from Sat night until Monday morning and for 3 days during holidays (it was confirmed that Belle is checked on during the 3 day holiday periods), and that 87,000 cases of injury were recorded due to pet fall-related injury (we have found this reference and actually 88% of the 87,000 were "dog" related injury http://blogs.psychologytoday.com/blog/canine-corner/200903/pets-risk-factor-fall-related-injuries).
The board accepted public comment on April 28 for 2 hours. Approximately a dozen citizens spoke ranging in age from 12 - 70 and several letters were read in favor of Belle remaining in the library. No one spoke or submitted letters in favor of removal of Belle.
The issue has been tabled until the May board meeting on May 26, 5 pm at the County Administration building in the Board of Supervisors chambers.
Please sign the petition to keep Belle in the library for patrons to enjoy, children to love, and to draw visitors and new forward thinking residents to our county.
Currently for consideration by the Pulaski County Library Board is removal of Belle the cat who has resided at the Dublin Library in Dublin, Virginia for 3 years. Belle was surrendered to the Animal Shelter in 2005 and was selected by the humane society as the perfect library cat because she was so gentle and loved people picking her up and petting her.
Concerns by board members range from verbal complaints over the last 3 years (1 citizen complaint of allergies and 1 citizen complaint of a child handling the cat improperly and being scratched), the "what if" someone sued do to injury caused by Belle and placed a burden on the county (but it was verified that liability insurance is in place and that no boad member could be personally sued), and that Belle may have scratched a couch that has been in the library since the library opened (it was later noted by staff that some damage was due to dry rot due to years of sun exposure), that Belle is left alone in the library from Sat night until Monday morning and for 3 days during holidays (it was confirmed that Belle is checked on during the 3 day holiday periods), and that 87,000 cases of injury were recorded due to pet fall-related injury (we have found this reference and actually 88% of the 87,000 were "dog" related injury http://blogs.psychologytoday.com/blog/canine-corner/200903/pets-risk-factor-fall-related-injuries).
The board accepted public comment on April 28 for 2 hours. Approximately a dozen citizens spoke ranging in age from 12 - 70 and several letters were read in favor of Belle remaining in the library. No one spoke or submitted letters in favor of removal of Belle.
The issue has been tabled until the May board meeting on May 26, 5 pm at the County Administration building in the Board of Supervisors chambers.
Please sign the petition to keep Belle in the library for patrons to enjoy, children to love, and to draw visitors and new forward thinking residents to our county.
We the undersigned want Belle to stay in the permanent collection of the Dublin Library. We do not want her removed.
Thank you for taking the time to read our comments.
We signed the "Keep Dublin Library cat Belle in permanent collection" petition!
# 787:
2:50 pm PDT, May 26,Jason Lineberg, Virginia
Once again, a few people ruin something for everyone else.
With respect to anyone who disagrees, I'm sure that Belle would not hurt someone unless provoked, and if you can't keep and eye on your child, don't pop them out. Personal responsibility on the part of a parent goes a lot further than kicking a cat out of its home. Same with "pet fall related". Our society loves to blame someone or something (especially when its defenseless) rather than to blame their own ignorance.
Also, what if a child damages something in the library? What would you do? Deny them the right to come in? I doubt if that would happen.
# 786:
1:50 pm PDT, May 26,Tamara Boyle, Virginia
# 785:
1:04 pm PDT, May 26,Marfesa Clark, Virginia
# 784:
6:08 am PDT, May 26,Gabriele Campbell, Virginia
please keep Belle, every time i go to the library to get a book she brings a smile to my face with her love and kindness and i see the same thing on the children's faces as they play with her, why would you want to take that away from them?
# 783:
3:33 am PDT, May 26,Karen Price, Virginia
# 782:
8:24 pm PDT, May 25,Laura Brown, Virginia
# 781:
8:12 pm PDT, May 25,Margaret Miller, Florida
Little things like a cat in the library are some of the fond memories I have of Virgina and living in the New River Valley. A pet in the shop per say gives the library a personality of it's own. Brings sense of warmth and humor. Why don't just post a few signs up that cat handling is one own's risk and leave it at that.
Respectfully,
Margie
# 780:
6:33 pm PDT, May 25,Robert Jordan, Virginia
# 779:
5:01 pm PDT, May 25,Jacob Cothran, Virginia
# 778:
3:48 pm PDT, May 25,Amy Caldwell, Virginia
No, I haven't been to the Dublin Library. Seems like the cat has been there longer than the new Director. Shouldn't Belle get a vote. She was voted safe before, what's the problem. Maybe the new Director should spend a little time with Belle, then maybe they'll understand why everybody Loves Belle.
# 777:
9:53 am PDT, May 25,Kaluzhnaya Ann, Russian Federation
# 776:
5:09 am PDT, May 25,Erin Bradshaw, Pennsylvania
Cats are wonderful animals. Kind and quiet, and like all animals, can make people forget their worries at times. Cat's give love and affection. If someone doesn't like Belle in the library, then go to another part of the library, or ignore her, she will move on.
# 775:
4:32 am PDT, May 25,Panagiotis Rigopoulos, Greece
# 774:
9:38 pm PDT, May 24,Cory Reed, Virginia
# 773:
9:32 pm PDT, May 24,Spencer Albert, Virginia
# 772:
8:40 pm PDT, May 24,Emily Smith, Pennsylvania
I just recently the story of Dewey Readmore Books, the Spencer, Iowa library cat, and also ran across the story of Belle in Dublin. I haven't been able to make the trip yet, but I plan too soon. I am a firm believer in the ability of an animal to make any place more warm and inviting, and to touch people positively. It's hard work but certainly work worth doing. Belle has a home and that home is in the library.
# 771:
6:05 pm PDT, May 24,Sharon Rowland, Virginia
I think that Belle should stay as long as she is cared for on weekends and Holidays.
# 770:
2:44 pm PDT, May 24,Linda Anderson, Virginia
Dear Pulaski County Library Board,
Fond as I am of books, I don't think that's all that libraries are about. Surely, they are also about values, and one of the greatest values a society or a culture can have is caring for the innocent and helpless, which surely Belle is. I respectfully ask that you allow her to stay in her home, where the great majority of the community obviously wants her to stay.
Sincerely,
Linda Anderson
# 769:
10:26 am PDT, May 24,Trowa Barton, Ohio
Let the cat stay, it helps bring people into the library and thus brings more business for the library.
# 768:
9:28 am PDT, May 24,Elizabeth Howell, Virginia
Belle has been living at the library for 3 years and this is considered her "home" and I don't think it is fair to just remove her for false complaints and just not wanting her there. More citizens enjoy her there and just don't mind having her around. This is her home and she should not be taken away from it.
# 767:
8:01 am PDT, May 24,Connie Mauck, Virginia
# 766:
5:53 pm PDT, May 23,Dianna Hellberg, Virginia
Every library should have a cat like Belle. Look at the photos of her.
Here in Norfolk we had a cat at my library, and she was the reason I went in so often. When she died after a long life, we began searching for the next library cat!
# 765:
4:39 pm PDT, May 23,Jessica Anderson, Virginia
# 764:
1:59 pm PDT, May 23,Name not displayed, Ohio
# 763:
9:03 am PDT, May 23,Mary Anne Vandivort, Virginia
Please keep Belle at the library! Kitties are a wonderful & welcoming addition to any library. If you don't believe that, then you need to read "Dewey" the Spencer Iowa library cat.
# 762:
8:26 am PDT, May 23,Petra Prachleitner, Austria
# 761:
7:29 am PDT, May 23,Manfred Schmalenberger, Austria
# 760:
7:01 am PDT, May 23,Name not displayed, Virginia
Animals have a healthing touch to them, please keep Belle
# 759:
9:40 pm PDT, May 22,Susan Gordon, Virginia
I hope that you will allow Belle to continue to live at the library. Having a library cat is a charming idea--think of the now famous library cat Dewey. As a long time cat owner, I can assure you that cats can be safely left unattended from Saturday night until Monday morning, and that many book shops keep cat mascots because cats do well in library-like surroundings. I'm sure a great many more people would miss Belle than are bothered by her presence.
# 758:
9:12 pm PDT, May 22,Nancy Botts, Virginia
Belle should definitely be able to stay....where is the board's humanity? Have we become such a fearful and litigious society that we are afraid of a cat? How about just closing the library because someone might knock some books down on their head and sue the county. It's been scientifically documented that petting an animal lowers blood presssure in hospital patients. Lord knows with the world in the mess it's in we need all the stress reducers we can find. Please save Belle !
# 757:
3:10 pm PDT, May 22,Sherry Clem, Virginia
Molly lived at Van Wyck Branch Library in Norfolk for 13 years. She was loved by most everyone, staff and patrons alike with many coming to this branch so they could visit with her. The children who came to storytime named her and as she originially came to catch mice before the old Carneigie library was rennovated she was honored by City Council as a staff member. Food and vet bills were paid by donations and she had regular vet checkups, shots, and license. Her portrait hangs near the circulation desk.
There was a sign stating that Molly could be temporarily put in the Librarian's office if a patron was allergic or afraid of cats. Senior citizens who lived where they could no longer have pets adopted Molly as their own to pet and visit. Little children loved to hold her and when she had enough of their attention she would retreat to the workroom. We never experienced any threat of lawsuit though of course not everyone fancies cats but they were far outnumbered by those who loved her, and felt that like so many bookstores which have resident felines, that cats and books go together. The high school across the street dedicated their yearbook to Molly the year she died. I hope the board will decide to keep her on.
# 756:
2:23 pm PDT, May 22,Scott Palmer, Virginia
You have more important things to concern yourselves with than the allowance of a cat in a public library. Especially since no one appeared to speak AGAINST its living there, while many took time out of their day to become proponents for her. Again, there are far more important issues to concern ourselves with, especially since the "facts" regarding animal incidents used in this case are artificially inflated and skeptical at best.
# 755:
2:16 pm PDT, May 22,Name not displayed, Virginia
# 754:
1:14 pm PDT, May 22,Audrey Kertesz, Virginia
We are upset because the board is trying to take away our cat. The Humane Society didn't give Belle to a private family. They gave her to a public library to love and be loved by the public for the rest of her life. We, the public, love Belle. I know I fell in love with her the first time I saw her and started going to the Dublin Library just to see her. I used to visit the Pulaski Library exclusively almost daily before I found out the Dublin library had a library cat. Belle is the official library greeter whole presence makes us happy. Belle is friendly, gentle, and wouldn’t hurt any one. Belle is the people’s cat. What example of the responsibilities of pet ownership would it set if the board removes Belle? It says that animals we keep as pets are disposable. How would you tell the children who have loved Belle for 3 years that she is gone and why? Let Belle live out her life as was intended. She needs us and we need her. Belle can do for Dublin what Dewey and the hundreds of library cats do. Belle is only an asset and could never be a liability. The day I don't see Belle's sign on the Dublin library door will be the day I turn around and never return. To go through those doors would be to support the board's inhumane decision, and I could never do that.
# 753:
1:06 pm PDT, May 22,Name not displayed, Virginia
Please keep Belle!
Carrying on the tradition of "Library Cat" reflects so well on the people of Dublin...
Please don't let a few complaints destroy such a lovely old tradition.
Don't underestimate the amount of goodwill you have created by taking Belle into your library family!
# 751:
10:44 am PDT, May 22,Name not displayed, Virginia
First, I love cats...I have three myself, and Belle is a beauty. Second, I feel bad for library cats. They are declawed, which is inhumane. Then the kids are rough on them. And some people are just allergic. They shouldn't have to "keep away" from the cat. I have a friend who starts hyperventating if she's in the same house as cat, the cat doesn't even have to be in the same room. And a cousin who was put in the tent at the hospital. Her family didn't know she was allergic. All I'm saying is maybe you should listen to the other side.
