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Arts & Entertainment

People worldwide denounce D-FW town's decision to evict Browser the library cat

The city council in a Fort Worth suburb recently voted to remove a cat named Browser from its town library where the animal has lived in 2010, but people around the world believe Browser purrfect for his job there and have recently pounced on the opportunity to say so.

More than 5,000 people signed a petition on Change.org in hopes of swaying the White Settlement city council to allow Browser to live at the local library.

Ron White, White Settlement's mayor, told ABC News Browser was adopted several years ago to help with a rodent problem. He's become "our library's mascot," according to the White Settlement Public Library's website. On June 14, however, the city council voted 2-1 to remove the cat from the library and gave him 30 days to find a new home.

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To which the rest of the world said, "You gotta be kitten me!"

Comments have poured in on the White Settlement Public Library's Facebook page as well as the petition's website from across the U.S. and the world after Browser's story was picked up by Associated Press, The Huffington Post and more.

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Lillian Blackburn, president of the local Friends of the Library group, says the response has been both overwhelming and heartwarming considering the library has never received any complaints about Browser. Someone who called Blackburn from Georgia is even looking into the legality of removing the cat based on property laws, she says.

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"We knew the city would be upset because there are so many people who use the library and look for the cat, especially the children," she says. "We were surprised at the worldwide attention that it's gotten. It's nothing like we ever expected to happen."

The outpouring of support could have an immediate effect. According to the White Settlement city council's website, there is a special meeting scheduled for Friday to "discuss and consider relocation of of Library Facility cat 'Browser.'" Perhaps more accurately, re-discuss and reconsider?

[UPDATE July 5 at 11:24 a.m.: The city council reversed its decision at the special meeting last week, and Browser the library cat will remain in his post. Yay!]

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Here's what cat lovers are saying about the decision right meow: