After putting his name Furward for the prime minister and bringing joy to millions of people, the last feline of the old colony of cats in Parliament Hill has died.
Coal Taurozzi was with its owner Danny Taurozzi and his younger adoptive brother Winston when he received veterinary assistance to die on Wednesday after a long battle against cancer, according to Danny.
Coal had just turned 17 on Canada’s day and suffered a strong decrease in health this week.
“He was a gentle cat with a heart of gold,” said Taurozzi. “I was kind to everyone. It wasn’t aggressive.”
‘We wouldn’t have that in Washington’
The coal, with its jet black fur and bright green eyes, for years received millions of visitors to the most powerful political lands in Canada.
He was abandoned as a kitten in Parliament Hill and grew up in the cat colony, where he was treated and fed by volunteers.
The cats were brought to the House of Commons in their early years to deal with rodents. In the 1950s, their hunting skills were replaced by other pest control methods and were banished.
The volunteers then took care of the mousers, gave them names and built a small town on a slope behind the central block for protection.
At its peak, the sanctuary had more than 30 streets who devoured about $ 7,000 in cat food every year paid for donations, not by the federal government.
For politicians, cats were relieved of stress. Felines even received unofficial and informal RCMP protection.
The sanctuary was also a popular tourist attraction. The Canadian Heritage Department said that Hill’s guides still have questions about cats to this day.
“Americans loved them when they came and visited the cats,” Danny said. “[They’d say]’We wouldn’t have that in Washington!’ “
The sanctuary finally closed in 2013 in the midst of concerns about the welfare of animals. All the remaining cats were adopted, including the coal that went home with Taurozzi.
Donations gave coal the best available medical care
In the years that followed, Coal acquired a great monitoring of social networks and even run for the Prime Minister in the 2015 federal elections.
Coal captivated national attention once again last year after its owner launched a fundraising to help pay their expensive medical invoices.
The coal had rare and aggressive cancer called salivary gland carcinoma, which then extended to its lungs. I was also fighting arthritis and kidney disease.
Taurozzi had pet insurance, but did not cover the complete medical invoices of COAL. He said that Coal’s medical care cost more than $ 30,000.
He raised more than $ 15,000 through a Go Fund Me, which helped extend the life of coal and gave him the best available medical care.
He said he is grateful to everyone who donated, and wants coal to be remembered as a symbol of Canadian compassion.
“It is special to have cats in Parliament Hill,” Danny said.
