With the help of his humans, Jessica and Eric Hagan, of


Pennsylvania’s Wolf Creek Township, Draven was certified through a local Love on a Leash chapter that qualifies pet- provided therapy animals. He showed My Cat From Hell host Jackson Galaxy his hospital routine for a segment called “My Cat From Heaven.” Draven regularly visits the Grove City Medical Center, in Pine Township, local nursing homes and service groups.


Literacy Aids


“At 18, Cleo, my small, gray cat, re- tired from therapy visits and missed the attention,” says Michelle Car- dosi, a retail clerk in Silt, Colorado. “Kids reading to her at the school library provided a solution that satis- fied everyone.”


In 2010, the public library in White


Settlement, Texas, adopted Browser to remedy a rodent problem. Five years later, the city council cited pending renovations and a potential impact on allergies in backing a motion to oust Browser. Supporters, pointing out that the cat brought children through the doors, successfully petitioned to keep the four- legged employee.


Private Security


Less socially developed feral felines can provide needed services. The Kitty Bungalow Charm School for Wayward Cats rescues such cats from Los Angeles shelters. Each is vetted, spayed/neutered and microchipped. “When they’re adopted out in threes, community cats are more likely to stay on the job,” notes founder and headmistress Shawn Simons.


“In Southern California, working cats are employed as assistants to brewmasters at the Monkish Brewery to protect the grain and hops and at Saluti Cellars as vint- ner support in charge of gopher population control,” says Simons. “More traditionally, cats at the Portuguese Bend Riding Club barn discourage mice and make friends with horses and riders.” The school’s Working Cat Program partners with


area recycling centers, golf courses, warehouses and in- dustrial parks that could otherwise lose hundreds of mil- lions of dollars annually due to vermin-related structural damage, including gnawed wiring and other potential fire hazards. “Businesses get an all-natural, safe and ef- fective way to control pests and cats live life naturally,” says Simons. Working cats of many stripes are becoming increasingly


common. For a business, it’s a money-saver; for a cat, it’s a lifesaver.


Connect with freelance writer Sandra Murphy at StLouisFreelanceWriter@mindspring.com.


I


DOG OF THE MONTH


’m sweet Sarah, a calm 4-year-old Retriever/Labrador mix with a friendly nature. I get along with other dogs and even cats! I love going on walks and have lived with people of all ages. Did I mention I’m housetrained? I’m very playful and I know lots of commands. I’d love to learn more. Want to help me? I’m hanging out with a volunteer so there will be more room at the shelter for Hurricane rescues, but meeting me is really easy! Send an email to Adoption@ AustinHumaneSociety.org and they’ll set it up!


To learn more about Sarah or other pets to adopt, visit AustinHumaneSociety.org/perfect-pup.


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