Move over Michael Bloomberg. A cat named Pretty Boy just might have given you a run for your money in the next Mayorial election had he not recently passed away. At least if the folks down on Seventh Street in the East Village were the ones casting their ballots. As far as they are concerned, Pretty Boy was the purr-fect Mayor.
Pretty Boy, estimated to be about 22 years old, was a local fixture for more than a decade on the south side of Seventh Street between First Avenue and Avenue A. And while 22 years is nothing to bat a paw at, this amazing cat will be sorely missed and his death, of natural causes, has unleashed a sea of emotions. Everyone who knew and loved Pretty Boy would expect nothing less from his fans, which included store owners, their patrons, neighborhood kids and more.
Pretty Boy wondered into Mikey's Pet Shop back in 1998 and since that time had been a fixture in the neighborhood. While he spent his nights in the pet shop with his best friend Herbie, he spent his days wondering the neighborhood and lounging on the counter at a local hair salon -- it's rumored he was a hairdresser in a past life -- or better yet, curled up in the lap of one of the salons' patrons.
No one really knows for sure where Pretty Boy is now, but there is one thing we do know and that is that while he was on this earth, he was well loved by everyone. And, in turn, everyone was well-loved by Pretty Boy. As one of Pretty Boy's admirers so beautifully stated, "Pets open up the heart center. There is something about the unconditional love; they clean the blues right off of you."
To learn more about Pretty Boy and those who loved him go to http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/20/nyregion/20prettyboy.html?em
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