I'm on the board of an educational site on a former farm/religious community. This cat was adopted as a much-needed mouser, but he now has his own line of gift cards bearing his image, and has received fan mail, and has even solicited donations from otherwise notably tight-fisted individuals.
The downside is, of course, those with allergies, though there is so much dust in this historic site I can't imagine he adds much more. We do not have much by way of collections, except some large crumbling buildings with vermin, so he is far more helpful than dangerous. I did have a student who balked at the "please don't let the cat out" sign when visiting the site for the first time, but clearly some find the cat charming. Or even spiritual--a visiting psychic said the cat was a reincarnation of a former resident should never be adopted out as he had too many spiritual friends there.
Okay . . .
He makes his rounds during board meetings, laying on one person's papers and then another. I've been on the board going on seven years and have never seen anyone take offense, at least not openly. Many seek him out. Because it's a historic site and a former farm, of course, he seems to fit the place.
Or maybe we're just a bit nutty here.
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From: Museum discussion list on behalf of Meredith Dunham
Sent: Wed 4/16/2008 6:11 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [MUSEUM-L] office cats? allergies to cats and other businessplace inconsiderations
As entertaining as it would be to have an office pet, I kind of agree with Chris. I love critters of all shape and sizes (have two dogs) but I have a sister who is severely allergic and I sympathize. I would cringe to think of what a potential donor or other professional might think or do if confronted by a critter that sets off their allergies when on a visit to your institution.
And it might send the wrong impression as far as professionalism goes to visitors, donors, business associates, etc. You also may want to check health regulations on having an office pet. Even if everyone agreed that having one is fine, the local health department might not. Oh, and your insurance policy as well. If your computer breaks down due to pet hair or if the cat knocks off/breaks something relatively important, your insurance may not cover an office pet.
Would that we were all allergy free and pet lovers...
Meredith Dunham
AmeriCorps*VISTA
Have patience with all things, but chiefly have patience with yourself. Do not lose courage in considering your own imperfections, but instantly set about remedying them - every day begin the task anew.
~Saint Francis de Sales
________________________________
Date: Wed, 16 Apr 2008 16:43:37 -0500
From: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [MUSEUM-L] office cats? allergies to cats and other businessplace inconsiderations
To: [log in to unmask]
I started to let this pass by, but my grant writing can wait 5 minutes more.
As an allergy sufferer it irritates me (pun intended) to go into some store or office and see cats, cat hairs, etc. etc. and know that I can either just turn and leave or have to take extra precautions just to avoid having my eyes water, itch and puff up. A local hardware store has cats in the store, and in spite of liking the store and trying to shop there whenever I can, instead of the local Wal-Mart, it is annoys me every time I go in, to have to remember not to touch any surfaces the cats are likely to have touched, not to put my hands anywhere near my face, and then have to go immediately somewhere to wash my hands before I can do anything else.
Any while I'm pointing out things businesses do unthinking of what their actions may cause to those of us with allergies, let my point out the one that I find the most annoying and widespread, the Airwick type of perfume coverups. I have encountered them in antique stores, food places, gift shops on vacation, and even in my own museum building when a new cleaning crew decided that rather than clean the men's room they would put up one of those.
When someone with sinus problems hits a small, closed room that one of these Airwick type perfumes has been in, it can only take a few seconds to set off a terrible sinus headache and ruin someone's whole day.
I have learned to keep an eye out ahead for the candle & perfume sections to avoid - but cats and Airwicks should be in your home not in a public place of any kind.
Chris Taylor
Executive Director
Atchison County Historical Society
P.O. Box 201
200 S. 10th Street, Santa Fe Depot
Atchison, KS 66002
913-367-6238
[log in to unmask]
www.atchisonhistory.org <http://www.atchisonhistory.org/>
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