The community rallied to the young calico kitty’s side after the Commissioners Court ruled she couldn’t stay at the library.
SAN ANTONIO — Call it a purr-fect ending for a Hill Country kitty at the center of a paw-troversy.
Pepper, a beloved library cat in Fredericksburg whose fanbase exploded after Gillespie County officials ordered that she pack up her treats and hit the road, has been adopted by a family. She was briefly housed at Hill Country SPCA after being evicted from the library last week.
“Here’s to a lifetime of love, naps and sunny windows,” the shelter posted this week on Facebook. “Happy tails, Pepper!”
The 8-month-old calico had been providing companionship to patrons and creating a welcoming environment at Pioneer Memorial Library in Fredericksburg, a petition says. That changed when staff were told last week she must go as a result of a Gillespie County Commissioners Court decision.
“An American Library Association survey found that library animals, like Pepper, significantly improve the atmosphere of public libraries, making them more approachable and friendly spaces,” says that petition, which as of Friday has gathered the signatures of more than 9,600 residents who wanted to see her returned. “In the face of these benefits, the decision to remove her is devastating. The right to a safe home is essential for everyone and every being, including our beloved Pepper.”
A library staff members told KENS 5 they could “neither confirm nor deny” that Pepper was kicked out.”
But Gillespie County Judge Daniel Jones expanded on the decision, saying library personnel should have sought “consent” from county leaders before bringing in an animal.
“Regrettably, the presence of the cat in the County Library has now become a divisive issue, pitting members of our community against one another,” Jones said. “This situation is also now taking away focus and resources from the other important work of conducting the business of the people of Gillespie County.”
Jones said his awareness of the Pepper situation started earlier this month, “when I received the first of what has become many emails and phone calls on the matter.” But he didn’t specify what the initial complaints may have been about.
Pepper was being cared for by staff members at Hill Country SPCA, which just days ago listed “your favorite library cat” for adoption.
The new post announcing her adoption has garnered more than 163 comments from locals sending well wishes of snuggles and treats. A woman identifying herself as the mother in Pepper’s new family said that she’s coming to a home with “a kitty brother and a kitty sister to play with.”
“While I know many of us wish that Pepper would have been allowed to stay at the library, please know we will take the best care of her and are hopeful to have her remain a fixture in our community,” she said, adding the family plans to create a social media page for Fredericksburg residents who want to continue following Pepper.