Seize the Day ~~ Carpe Diem

Plymouth's cat commuter killed by car whilst waiting for the bus – Coach Broker News

普利茅斯貓乘客等公車時被客車撞死（ 2010/1/22 ）

A cat which became a celebrity by travelling around Plymouth on

the bus has died after reportedly being struck by a car.

Casper has been queuing with other passengers to get the number three

service from his home in Plymouth for months, bus company First said.

It added that he often sat in the queue and then quietly padded on board

and curled up on a seat for the ride.

Casper's owner Susan Finden, 55, who picked him from a rescue home in

2002, said he had always been a free spirit.

Mrs Finden said she named her pet after Casper the Friendly Ghost, as

he has a habit of wandering off.

A spokesman for First said that drivers had been bussing Casper around

for months, but Mrs Finden said she had only just found out about his use

of public transport.

The care worker said: "He'd always go off and have a wander.

"Once I had to walk a mile-and-a-half with a cat basket to bring him back

from a car park.

"He does love people, and I don't know what the attraction is but he loves

big vehicles like lorries and buses."

A notice has been put up by First in the bus drivers' rest room in Plymouth

bus station asking them to look after the rogue passenger if they spot him

sneaking on board.

The cat was so well-known on the First Devon and Cornwall service, drivers

knew which stop to let him off at.

His death was announced on a notice put up at Casper 's bus stop by his

owner.

'Free spirit'

It said: "Many local people knew Casper , who loved everyone - he also

enjoyed the bus journeys.

"Sadly a motorist hit him and did not stop.

" Casper died from his injuries. He will be greatly missed...he was a much

loved pet who had so much character. Thank you to all those who befriended

him."

Mrs Finden posted a tribute to Casper on the local Herald newspaper

website and thanked First's bus drivers for looking after her pet so well.

The website has also received tributes to Casper from around the world,

including the US and Australia .

The bus company said many of its drivers had expressed sympathy for

Casper to Mrs. Finden.

In a statement, a company spokeswoman said: " Casper touched many

people's lives and clearly had a very exciting life - travelling around Plymouth

and who knows where else.

"I suspect he's now exploring heaven and is telling all the other cats up there

about the many adventures he had."

Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/uk_news/england/devon/8174850.stm

Published: 2009/07/29 13:25:59+2010/01/19 12:12:21 GMT

Rest in Peace! Casper , we all love you…