Browser is a library cat that lives in White Settlement Public Library near Fort Worth, Texas. In 2016, the gray tabby was evicted from the library by the local municipality, provoking an international backlash that resulted in a unanimous decision permitting him to say. Browser was originally adopted by the library to control rodents, but later became a popular mascot of the library. Then, City Councilman Elzie Clements, who claimed that “City Hall and City businesses are no place for animals,” made a motion to remove Browser from the library. Mayor Ron White claimed the motion to remove the cat was in response to a City Council member not being permitted to bring his puppy to City Hall. The White Settlement City Council took up the issue of what to do with Browser, with Clements being the lone vote to get rid of the favorable feline. In response to the eviction decision, a petition to permit Browser to remain in the library attracted over 12,000 signatures worldwide, and Mayor White received over 1,500 emails advocating for Browser to be permitted to remain in the library. On July 1, 2016, White Settlement City Council unanimously voted to reverse its earlier eviction decision. Browser was subsequently dubbed by the mayor as "Library Cat for Life." On December 13, 2016, Clements again tried to sway the City Council to vote to remove Browser, claiming “I’m a council member and I can put anything I want on the consent agenda,” but the motion didn't pass. This would be the last meeting attended by Councilman Clements as an elected official. He was subsequently defeated during his re-election bid in November 2016, and died on January 1, 2022. Browser is still at the library.
