SUSAN LOESCH

Imagine what the very best field trip would be like! Whatever you came up with couldn’t possibly be any more fun than what Barney and Shadow did Saturday.

The guys got all spiffied up in their bandanas and headed downtown to The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, where Ms. Krisha of Rescue in the Rock had invited us to visit the newsroom.

We were scheduled to go to a budget meeting and meet lots of the newspaper staff.

We arrived a little early so Barney and Shadow could adjust to their new surroundings before meeting every one. Adjustment time? Not needed!

The guys hit the floor or, rather the conference table, completely at home. Barney talked a lot to Ms. Krisha; she had brought lots of treats and it took the guys no time to chow down on some great catnip-flavored ones.

That will have to go on my next shopping list because they sure were a hit.

As the meeting filled up, Barney and Shadow moved around the table from person to person, making sure everyone stayed on task and kept things moving.

Every one was good-natured about all the fuzzy help!

After the meeting broke up, we headed out for a tour of the newsroom with Ms. Krisha as our guide.

She pointed out the various editors’ offices, the copy desk, design desk and photography department.

Shadow looked over the shoulder of one of the photographers as he worked on the computer.

Gee, no cat pictures on the screen, so Shadow and Barney moved on.

We stopped and visited with people as we made our way around the newsroom.

Shadow found an empty box and tried it out, and Barney explored inside a huge newspaper recycling bin.

I think both guys felt really at home as they discovered the copy desk reference books! Now here was something they knew all about!

We saw the copier that prints out proofs of coming articles, and Shadow gave editing a try, red pen ready to mark away.

Barney surprised everyone by showing us that he is quite an accomplished leash-walker. Both of the guys were wearing a harness and leash for safety.

Barney walked through the newsroom as if he were born to leash-walk; Shadow, on the other hand, tolerated the harness. He is more of a leash-flopper, melting onto the floor and rolling rather than walking.

When Barney took a break on one of the desks, what should he find next to him but the Unstable Chicken, a really personable chicken statue that’s a fixture on the copy desk. They made quite a pair.

We took a break back in the conference room where Barney and Shadow got to meet 10-year-old Audra, who had come to work with her dad, sports copy editor Rob Cox.

“Which cat do you like best?” she asked her dad when they came in the room.

She fed Barney and Shadow treats; how they had room for any more I don’t know, but they ate all Audra offered them.

Before she left, she told me, “I think I like them both!”

I’m with Audra; let’s face it, there is no way to choose one over the other when it comes to picking a Head Library Cat.

We’ll just have to have two Head Library Cats; if I wasn’t sure of that before Saturday, this field trip made the decision for me.

We headed out for one last swing through the newsroom. First stop: The copy desk.

It was a cat’s dream … rows of people all with treats ready and hands just waiting to pet the furry visitors.

We made a stop in the sports department. Shadow’s Harley-Davidson bandana was a hit there, and once again, the supply of petting and chin scratches seemed almost endless.

Both of the guys stopped to check out the work going on at the design desk. As Shadow moved on, though, Barney stopped to give his input.

He and local section designer Mike Simmons carried on a conversation, with Barney’s
end being expressed in his deep grumpy-sounding meow.

“I have said the same thing,” Mike told him. “And in the same tone of voice!”

More than one person said they thought the newsroom should have a full-time cat around. I know Barney and Shadow agree; I noticed them look longingly at the many stacks of papers and books on the desks. Betcha they were thinking how much fun it would be to knock all the stacks over and do a little rearranging.

If an Editor Cat job opens up, I will have to keep it a secret from Barney and Shadow. They had such a good time I am afraid they might want to switch jobs.