SUSAN LOESCH

Cold and clear with temperatures in the 50s. A typical Arkansas late winter day. Inside the Arkansas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired, however, there was no cold and nothing typical about the day!

This was the first day since last May that we had cats finally back in our library stacks. The school was abuzz with excitement.

Students had known before spring break that Shadow would be at school this week, and his visit was happily anticipated by everyone from first grade through 12th. (more…)

SUSAN LOESCH

As our fall semester gets underway I thought it might be fun to tell you how our Library Cat Program got its start. To do that you have to meet Piper, a bobtail orange tabby who has just had his 10th birthday.

Piper came into my life in September, 2000, when he was just 5 weeks old. He had been
found in a drainpipe at a big grocery store; someone heard him crying. He was rescued by Care for Animals, and they asked me to foster him.

Oh, my goodness, did I fall in love with him! The first thing this little ball of fluff did was cuddle up under my chin and nurse on my neck. To this day he still does that, especially when he is nervous. (more…)

SUSAN LOESCH

Here we are back at school; it’s Registration Day, when the kids come back. I remember this day last year, Alex with me, bad news about Footsie to deliver to the kids. I wondered if we would make it through the year.

Make it we did, even with Alex’s sudden death, and now a new year begins.

Shadow, Barney, Hexie and Tank will share Library Cat duties, with Shadow and Barney as co-Head
Library Cats. (more…)