Watertown Daily Times | Zoo’s cougar euthanized following long-term illness.
I was reading the local news and was saddened to see that my city zoo has lost it’s beautiful cougar, Garnet. Apparently he was believed to be the country’s oldest cougar – 18 years when most live to 12. He was suffering and I’m sure he is at peace now. I was interested to read at the end that Garnet was taken by the state from a Syracuse man who kept him as a pet. As far as zoo exhibits go, his habitat, though small compared to their natural range, was very nice. In situations like this, I am glad there are zoos as “domesticated” wild animals are hardly able to return to the wild successfully.
This is kind of a random post for my blog, but my oldest readers should recall that I originally started on Blogger as “The North Country Pagan,” aspiring to post about Pagan-related news in Northern NY. The loss of such a beautiful nature spirit, and the tragic yet compassionate relationship he had with humans, is worthy of my blog indeed.
Author M. A. Phillips 
This makes me sad. He was such a beautiful kitty. I’m glad he isn’t suffering anymore, at least.
Right. I always try to focus on the peace after suffering. Thanks for commenting! It’s nice when readers actually are familiar with the area I’m talking about.
Of course I’m familiar with it. =)