It was becoming a Saturday ritual for me.
Get up and read the Tennessean newspaper, and stare long and hard at the Saturday "Adopt a Pet" section. That's where the Davidson County Animal Shelter would run photos of pets up for adoption each week.
Having left Fred the Cat back in Scotland with family members, I was really feeling the absence of something "furry and purry". But every week I talked myself out of it (too much cat hair, I'm away on trips too much, and on and on).
Then one Saturday, which was just like any other Saturday, I looked at one of the photos and decided to make it happen. The result: the VoC studios are now the domain of a slinky, four year old black feline called "Panther".
Some listeners have already met Panther, as she has been known to jump up to the microphone during VoC shows and add her own comments. She also enjoys walking across the broadcast desk, depressing buttons left and right, leaving in her wake a trail of technical havoc.
But she also spends a lot of lap time on VoC staff and visitors, seemingly taking an instant liking to anyone and everyone she meets. There's something about having a cat (or a dog) that is hard to put into words, but it makes the little inconveniences worth it.
Plus, from now on, I'm blaming Panther for any mistakes I make on air (get off the control desk, cat!).
Dierks Bentley - Home
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