[OPLINLIST] Tipp City’s library cat

[Mark Mabelitini]

Hello,

For those of you who knew our cat or knew of him, please read on...


Submitted on behalf of Janet J. Shoup of the Tipp City Public Library


     Dewey, Tipp City’s one and only library cat for the past 16 years,
has passed away. Friends of Dewey should know that he died, without
assistance, in the loving care of Jeff and Lisa Hendricks of the
Tippecanoe Veterinary Hospital. He had remained with his library
family until his last day, Friday, Jan. 26.
     Dewey’s health had been in steady decline for the past few weeks and
those who loved him are comforted that he is at peace.
     Most Tipp City residents know the story of how Dewey came to live at
the library in early 1991. He was a stray without options as February
brought bitter winds, an ice-storm, and snow. He was already a
familiar friend to many of the staff members who had been sharing
their lunches with the little waif for weeks.
     That February storm passed, and the staff didn’t see the orange and
white longhair for several days. They became certain that he had not made
it through the harsh weather. So, when he reappeared many days later, they
took action to keep him from struggling through another Ohio cold snap.
They asked then Library Director, Pat Liening if Dewey could live at the
library.
      As Dewey’s backers’ had assumed, Mrs. Liening was fairly easy to
convince that their proposal was feasible. Everyone knew her to be as
softhearted for a pet as anyone, particularly for this little
fellow who purred with the volume near that of a motorboat. Besides, it
was not unusual to hear of other libraries that had gone out on a limb to
give a stray cat a home. In fact, library cats were a bit of a trend back
then.
     A few days later, Mrs. Liening took the matter of Dewey’s status
before the board of trustees. The staff was delighted when Mrs.
Liening reported that Dewey could move in with full approval from the
library’s leaders.
    It quickly became evident that Dewey would pull his own weight around
the library. He roamed in and out as patrons came and went. He visited
homes, businesses, and churches, taking the message of goodwill from the
public library as his free pass into the hearts and lives of all he met.
He became known in library circles throughout the state and his story was
featured in newspapers, magazines, and on the Internet.
     To Dewey’s community, the staff members became more than workers who
shushed the kids and reminded patrons of overdue books. They were
people who cared, and they were unable to turn away from a small and
desperate friend.
     As his life progressed, Dewey reached a grandeur that none could have
expected. As a full-grown cat, he was about 17 pounds of the most
handsome, personality-plus tomcat that anyone could have imagined.
     But the passage of time would take its toll, as it always will.
Eventually, the staff would need to curtail his wandering to keep him
safe. Still, he had teen meetings to attend, photo shoots, patrons and
staff to entertain with that rumbling purr, and plenty of friends who came
to the library to visit and cheer him. He lived a long,
productive life in the company of those who adored him.
     To all who mourn Dewey’s passing, his library family can offer only
that it was his time, and he went easily. He left his loved ones with so
many sweet memories. But most importantly, the memories of Dewey’s life
will remain with his library family as a vivid illustration of how going
the extra mile for a friend in need can bring the richest rewards.
     The library staff and trustees wish to thank everyone who helped
Dewey along the way.



Mark Mabelitini, Director
Tipp City Public Library
11 E. Main St.
Tipp City, Ohio 45371
(937) 667-3826 (office)
(937) 667-7968 (fax)
www.tippcitylibrary.org

"The true meaning of life is to plant trees under whose shade you do not
expect to sit." --Nelson Henderson, philanthropist