Great idea for both staff and cats! JN
Originally posted on Jun. 2, 2015, at 6:03 p.m. Updated on Jun. 3, 2015, at 11:46 a.m.
Tiffany Tillison
2. The local government employees of Doña Ana County in Las Cruces, New Mexico, can head to their “library” of feline friends during the day and select a kitty to keep them company at their desk.
One of the employees, Tiffany Tillison, posted a photo of the “cat library” to Reddit and it quickly blew up on the internet.
3. Tillison explained that the county’s head of public relations had the idea of bringing cats from a local animal shelter and letting county employees play with them.
The shelter, Animal Care Center of Mesilla Valley, brings over cats that usually “need a little special attention.”
“We have had cats that are blind, that have been abused, that were abandoned,” Tillison said.4. Though it is formally known as the “Kitty Kondo,” Tillison told BuzzFeed News the employees have nicknamed it “the library.”
Tiffany Tillison
5. On average, there are about five cats available at a time, Tillison said. Employees can go play with them in the library, or take them to their office for as long as they want.
Tillison said that as far as she knows, no one has ever complained. She attributed this to employees being respectful of coworkers whom they know are allergic.
“There is a chair in the condo for people who want to take breaks in there and spend time with the cats,” she said. “My office mate is allergic, and I just make sure to wash my hands and lint roll before I go back to my desk, and he hasn’t had any problems yet.”7. In addition to being fun for the employees, Tillison said the project helps the cats find forever homes.
8. In fact, Tillison’s family adopted their cat Lucy through the library. She said more than 100 other cats have also been adopted through the program.
The project helps to raise awareness about cats who need homes, she said.
“Most animal shelters are out of the way outside of towns (usually outside the city limits), so you have to really be thinking of adopting an animal to take the trouble to go over there,” she said. “But with this program, hundreds of people come through our lobby every day, so they can’t miss seeing them!”
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