Thursday September 17, 2009, 2:04 am
Cat found in Grand Rapids library book return

GRAND RAPIDS (WZZM)- A young cat will soon be up for adoption after being stuffed into the drop box at a Grand Rapids library. A staff member discovered the cat a few days after Labor Day. The female cat was inside the book return.

Karen Terpstra, Executive Director at the Kent County Humane Society says it was a cruel act. "Dropping an animal into an enclosed box like that is not kind."

Last Wednesday, 1-year old "Dewey" was discovered inside the book return at the public library on Bridge Street.

"I have a lot of concerns. If someone's not able to keep an animal or if they find an animal, please bring it to us at the Kent County Humane Society or the Kent County Animal Shelter, so it can be safe."

Terpstra says "Dewey" could have been hurt by a falling book or by being trapped in a dark box. "There is no food, no water, no litter, and since it was right after the holiday, she could have been in there for several days."

"Dewey" made it through her ordeal. The Kent County Humane Society says she's healthy and has a sweet personality. She'll be held at the shelter for seven days and if nobody claims her, she will be put up for adoption next week.

The library staff told Terpstra that they named him "Dewey" after a cat that lived in an Iowa library for 19 years. That "Dewey" was found in the return box of the library and the staff took him on as their official "library cat". He died in 2006, but his image and story lives-on in several books.

Thursday September 17, 2009, 11:00 pm
Thanks for the story; it's great to hear about rescued cats! And cats and books are an incredible and marvelous combination!! It's sweet they named her Dewey!

Thursday September 17, 2009, 11:30 pm
II don't think people do not put a lot of thought into what they do at times. A split second decision. And as usual the thought is stupid. I don't like the fact that it had to do with our little fuzz ball Dewey #2.
Thanks for the insight Rafael
Noted

Friday September 18, 2009, 12:05 am
Sounds like the mindless prank of a hoodlum...hope puss's story has a happy ending

Friday September 18, 2009, 12:11 am
I would love it if the library would adopt her and make her their official cat-after the 7 day wait to see if she's claimed-that would be "poetic justice." Thanks for your comments everyone-will be looking for an update.

Friday September 18, 2009, 1:09 am
What a great name for a cat found in a library book return box! Dewey is the name of the guy who invented the library classification system called Dewey Decimal in the 19th century so it was a bit strange that the Librarian should say it was named after another cat of the same name claerly that information must have been "Classified" Do hope the liittle kit gets a forever home!

Friday September 18, 2009, 4:15 am
at least there is a partial happy ending ,at the moment,the lil one was found unharmed,which might not have been the case if someone had returned a big load of books!!now i think rather than an adoption,from outside the library,which as long i's too a good home i like the adoption by the library itself idea!!thanks Rafael

Saturday September 19, 2009, 4:00 pm
There was already a cat called Dewey that arrived in the returned book box at a public library-- I think in the UK -- and it was adopted by the library. It lived there for its whole life and a book was written about it.

Saturday September 19, 2009, 4:01 pm
Sorry Raffi I should have read the last bit of your note! It was in Iowa then!

Saturday September 19, 2009, 4:23 pm
God bless her widdle heart...people are so cruel. At least Dewey wasn't burned or something like that. Not that I'm agreeing with the hoodlum who threw her in the return book box but at least she's alive to "tell" the "tail." LOL I hope the library adopts her!!

Sunday September 20, 2009, 9:53 am
What a horrible thing to do. That poor little kitty must have been terrified. Also, she must have been dehydrated and in a mess, when she was found. What a thoughtless, selfish act of cruelty. It's a relief that there is likely to be a happy ending for Dewey; the publicity will increase her chances of finding the lovely forever home she deserves.

I hope the perpetrator was caught on CCTV, and ends up in court for this.