Chester came to us because his previous owner had gotten too old to care for him, and instead of quietly becoming “the shop cat,” he staged what can only be described as a hostile takeover of On The Geaux Repair.

He now controls the front door, employee morale, customer relations, rescue intake, and apparently municipal ambitions.

Chester serves as our unofficial welcoming committee, greeting customers like he owns the place which, legally, he does not, but emotionally, absolutely. New rescue animals are also subjected to his inspection process before being allowed into the kingdom.

He communicates primarily through a bizarre little bird trill when petted. Nobody knows why. Scientists have declined to comment.

In his limited free time, Chester trains for combat by wrestling a Spider-Man plushy approximately his own size. Spider-Man has suffered repeated defeats and has not filed charges.

Chester also deals with a heart murmur, thyroid issues, and an ongoing eye problem. Has this humbled him? Absolutely not. He continues to patrol the shop, supervise employees who did not ask to be supervised, and stare judgmentally at customers until they acknowledge him.

His qualifications include:

* Wearing a tuxedo to work every single day
* Extensive experience in public relations
* Proven leadership over humans
* Welcoming rescues without demanding a salary
* Undefeated record against Spider-Man
* Zero known scandals, mostly because he cannot operate a cell phone

Chester is living proof that sometimes a rescue animal doesn’t just find a new home.

Sometimes he takes over the business.

West Monroe deserves a mayor in a tuxedo.

Vote Chester for Pet Mayor.

He already thinks he won.