An Animal's Impact

There is no doubt that pets have an effect on the lives of their human families, but animals sometimes have a bigger impact on a larger segment of the population. That was the case with a cat who was rescued after being tossed in the book depository in Spencer, Iowa. He was rescued by Vicki, the author of the memoir. By becoming a permanent part of the library, the cat named Dewey touched the lives of the library staff and patrons. Soon, he became known around the world and had a larger effect on Spencer than anyone could have predicted.

In 1988, Vicki Myron opened a book depository at the Spencer Public Library to discover a dirty, thin, cold kitten. The cat immediately cuddled into Vicki's arms and she felt he was thanking her for saving him. Within minutes, she had decided she wanted him to be...