Butterscotch is three-year-old male domestic longhaired orange tabby. He is very friendly and loves to be brushed. Come out and meet him. He loves children, cats and dogs. You will be charmed by his adorable manners.
Politics didn’t go to the dogs in the town of Talkeetna, Alaska. No, they elected a cat named Stubbs to be the honorary mayor. Mayor Stubbs recently died after an 18-year reign. He came to power in 1998 after the residents of Talkeetna wrote in his name.
Talkeetna technically has no mayor because it is deemed a “historical district,” not an actual town. That didn’t stop residents from electing the one representative they all believed in, Stubbs. As one resident said, “I really like Mayor Stubbs. He has never voted for anything I wouldn’t have voted for.”
Stubbs’ family owns the Nagley’s General Store and that is where he gained his fame. He was the official greeter and spent his day roaming around the store. He also visited other establishments in town and was received with love and affection.
Stubbs’ life wasn’t always easy. He was mauled by a dog in 2014 but recovered to resume his duties as mayor. His duties mainly consisted of wandering around town, greeting folks, and drinking cat-nip-laced water from a margarita glass kept exclusively for him at the local pub.
Stubbs was also a celebrity; he appeared on TV shows and did exclusive interviews on the news. He was not a camera hound and all the paparazzi just bored him. Mostly he loved his hometown and the store. He was drafted as a write-in candidate in the 2014 Alaska U.S. Senate race but was unsuccessful in his bid.
For the residents of Talkeetna, it is a sad time, and everyone is mourning his loss. Stubbs was at the age of 20 when he passed quietly over the Rainbow Bridge. There is hope, however, because one of the kittens owned by Stubbs’ family is being groomed to become the next mayor. Denali is an ambitious, adorable kitty who loves attention, follows people around like a puppy and has the same personality of Stubbs.
We look forward to the happy ending of this story when Denali is elected as the next mayor of Talkeetna. Politics in this Alaska community is really the cat’s meow.
IN NEED OF
CAPS’ garage sale is coming. We need gently used appliances, furniture, treadmills and miscellaneous items. We don’t need clothing. You can drop them off items at our storage unit located at 1105 Taylor Place (Spring Valley Rentals) unit 96. Someone will be there from 9 to 11 a.m. on the following dates: Aug. 5, 12 and 19.
Volunteers to walk dogs or play with cats, call 775-423-7500 for details.
SHOUT OUT TO
Aly Lawson who is the new editor for our CAPS column. We are so happy to have you onboard and grateful for the voice you give us in the community. Everyone at CAPS gives you a Four Paw Salute!
COME SEE US
CAPS will be at Walmart Aug. 19 with our Kissin’ Booth and a sweet smooching pooch. Come by to get your pooch smooch. We will also have caps, short-sleeved t-shirts, hoodies and sweatshirts, so please check them out.
DON’T FORGET
August Pet Holidays:
Work Like a Dog Day (make sure you are dog tired)
Flower Tree Nursery will be raffling a 20-gallon tree of your choice on Sept.15, and the winner doesn’t have to be present to win. The raffle tickets are available at Flower Tree, and they are $1 for one ticket and $5 for six tickets.
CONTACT CAPS
CAPS’ mailing address is P.O. Box 5128, Fallon, NV 89406. CAPS’ phone number is 775-423-7500. CAPS’ email address is caps@cccomm.net. Visit the CAPS website (www.capsnevada.com) and Facebook page (Churchill Animal Protection Society). Be sure to “Like” CAPS on Facebook because we are really likable.
Do you have questions, comments or a great story? Contact me at jkwmil@outlook.com.
Kathleen Williams-Miller, a CAPS volunteer, contributed this week’s column.