A Cat Tale

Once upon a time, there was a wonderful cat named Mango. Like his owners, he loved the outdoors. When his owners lived in the big village of Lake Placid, they only let him go outside on a leash.

The owners moved to Jay and Mango would stare out the window day dreaming about the day he could go outside without a leash.

The day finally came when his owners decided they would allow their cats to wander freely. For two summers, Mango could go on his own adventures. He liked helping in the garden and hanging around the house while his owners worked in the yard.

Mango also really liked getting into the cat mint. His owners were never really concerned about his recreational kitty drug use since he always came home when they shook his treats and called his name. He never went past his curfew.

It wasn't until other cats in the neighborhood started to disappear that the owners started restricting outdoor privileges. First it was Oreo across the street and then it was their good friend Dracula. This was becoming the summer known for cats gone missing along the Ausable.

Mango and his cat friend Monty became annoyed that they couldn't come and go as they pleased. They were forced to stay inside more than they liked.

The owners knew how much their cats enjoyed being outside and so they allowed them to go out as long as there was supervision at home. One evening right before dusk, they rattled the treat tin and Mango did not return.

The owners beat themselves up about letting their cats outside since they knew all along the real dangers of the outdoors. They all kept hope that Mango would come home, but he never did. Sadness filled their home.

They thought about getting another cat, but didn't want to feel as if they were replacing their beloved Mango. Not able to deal with the depression of their other cat, the owners felt like they needed some positive energy in their lives again and so they brought home Bella. She was rescued from the Adirondack Humane Society and is happy to have found a good home in Jay. She might only ever see the outdoors in her dreams.

In Memory of Mr. Mango. We loved you!