Yang the hospitalized cat is pictured with his owner Glynis in a ceremony to acknowledge his service … [+]
A town in the north of England held an unusual ceremony this weekend.
Councilors in Hexham, Northumberland, presented a cat with the key to the town, a “Freedom to Roam” certificate and a bag of cat treats.
The honor, and the Dreamies, were intended to recognize the ginger cat’s years of service to patients at the town’s local hospital.
Yang Bell, 13, has been walking from his home to nearby Hexham General Hospital every day for more than four years. On site, the now official mascot greets patients so they can pet him for comfort.
A nurse gives Yang a key to the city on a ribbon.
Although the price may sound like something out of a television show parks and recreation, local residents say the cat’s calming presence was a real comfort to patients at the hospital.
Nurse Jane Ferguson told the BBC: “When patients enter the hospital, they are very anxious and worried. They can feel extremely vulnerable. And Yang just brings a sense of calm and peace to everyone he meets.
Councilor Suzanne Fairness-Aitken added: “Anyone who wants his attention will get his attention. Over the years he has made people happy. Whether it’s mental health issues or families going to see patients – he’s there.
Alison Smith, of Hexham Town Council West End, called the cat ‘a sweet little character in the town’.
“He’s so well known. So loved,” she said. “We wanted to give him a little recognition and acknowledge what he’s doing.”
Yang’s owner, Glynis Bell, told the Newcastle Chronicle that the ceremony came as a surprise. “I knew nothing about it [the award] until I got a call from the council saying they wanted to hand him a plaque and a key to the city,” she said, adding that the furry visitor hadn’t always been a hit at the hospital.
But his perseverance eventually paid off.
“It’s so nice to see him getting the recognition he didn’t have in the beginning, people didn’t want him in the hospital. Now not only the hospital recognizes him, but also the municipality.”
In a post on social mediacouncilors wrote: “He welcomes visitors to the hospital every day and seems to know who needs a little special attention from Yang.”
“We are delighted to have been able to present him with this civic honor,” the post continued. “You are definitely our Top Cat Yang!”
It is not the first time he has received recognition for his services. Last year, animal charity PDSA gave Yang a compliment for his efforts to support the community.
Hospital cat Yang Bell is pictured wearing a National Health Service-branded bandana.
At the time, PDSA’s Rebecca Buckingham said the charity was “delighted” to have been able to recognize “the exceptional work Yang has done in support of his local community”.
The cat provides “a ray of sunshine in the darkest hours for many people,” she said, thanking him for providing “much-needed comfort to patients, visitors and employees at Hexham General Hospital almost every day”, adding that ” his efforts during the Covid-19 pandemic were greatly appreciated by those he met.
She said the cat is “a very deserving winner” of the organization’s honorable mention: an award that celebrates “the unparalleled dedication and enrichment that animals bring to our lives.”
