Dewey the Library Cat & Orlando At Bloomsbury Books

Read this book. Trust me. (1)

How much of an impact can an animal have? How many lives can one cat touch? How is it possible for an abandoned kitten to transform a small library, save a classic American town, and eventually become famous around the world? You can't even begin to answer those questions until you hear the charming story of Dewey Readmore Books, the beloved library cat of Spencer, Iowa. Dewey's story starts in the worst possible way. Only a few weeks old, on the coldest night of the year, he was stuffed into the returned book slot at the Spencer Public Library. He was found the next morning by library director, Vicki Myron, a single mother who had survived the loss of her family farm, a breast cancer scare, and an alcoholic husband. Dewey won her heart, and the hearts of the staff, by pulling himself up and hobbling on frostbitten feet to nudge each of them in a gesture of thanks and love. For the next nineteen years, he never stopped charming the people of Spencer with his enthusiasm, warmth, humility, (for a cat) and, above all, his sixth sense about who needed him most. As his fame grew from town to town, then state to state, and finally, amazingly, worldwide, Dewey became more than just a friend; he became a source of pride for an extraordinary Heartland farming town pulling its way slowly back from the greatest crisis in its long history.

Dewey Read More Books

Orlando at Bloomsbury Books:

Also, my sympathies go out to the staff and patrons at Bloomsbury Books in Ashland, Oregon (home of the Oregon Shakespeare Festival) who recently lost their beloved store cat, Orlando. I visit this store every time I go to Ashland and I looked forward to petting Orlando whenever I was there. I will miss you, boy. You were a wonderful greeter. I'm glad that you had such a good life.

Both cats were rescues and both lived a good, long, and useful life. This post is dedicated to all those who cat lovers out there, the people who take the time to notice a lost, starving or stay cat, who help out at shelters, foster kittens, donate what they can and go that extra mile for these splendid creatures.

Sia

Endnotes:

(1) I would like to add one more item to Dewey's claim to fame: He annoyed Bill O'Reily no end. Well done, Dewey!