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# 2015 Animal Year In Review: Fish Tales, Drone Wars, A Feline Mayor Lost, And More
- URL: https://bklyner.com/2015-animal-year-in-review-fish-tales-drone-wars-a-feline-mayor-lost-and-more-parkslopestoop/
- Published: 2015-12-31T15:49:30.000Z
- Updated: 2015-12-31T15:49:30.000Z
- Author: Donny Levit
- Tags: Animals, Nonsponsored, North Western Brooklyn, Park Slope, Baboons, Dining with Dogs, dogs, painted bunting, red tailed hawk, three-eyed fish, tiger the cat, #wp

![Tiger the cat](/content/images/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/tig1-702x516.jpg)

Tiger the cat, the unofficial mayor of 6th Avenue and 11th Street. (Photo by Andrea Vaszko)

Our neighborhood loves its animals. We know it because they’re the subject matter for some of the most popular articles that we write. We couldn’t close out 2015 without a look back at our dogs, cats, baboons, birds, and … “three-eyed fish.”

We had an interesting set of them — they touched us, amused us, and at times made us scratch our heads and roll our eyes.

We want to make sure you haven’t missed them, so we’ve selected our favorite animal stories for you over the past year.

![tiger the cat](/content/images/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/tig3.jpg)

Tiger the cat memorial. (Photo by Danielle West)

**[2015 marks the first year we have written an animal obituary](/blog/animals/community-says-farewell-beloved-tiger-cat-mayor-6th-avenue-11th-street/)**. But it is well-deserved.

Tiger the cat — considered the unofficial “Mayor of 6th Avenue and 11th Street” — was put to sleep on October 1 after being diagnosed with both Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV) and lymphoma earlier this year.

“Tiger did not belong to me. He did not belong to anyone. Or rather, he did. Tiger belonged to everyone,” said neighbor Tracey McNeil, who was one of many neighbors who considered the feline as part of the community’s fabric.

Various writers at [South Slopes News](/) ([this writer included](/blog/photos/photo-day-feline-mayor-6th-avenue)) and [neighbors](/blog/animals/photo-of-the-day-tiger-nap) would often [take photos](/blog/photos/photo-of-the-day-tiger-the-cat) of Tiger the cat. He was one of the most commonly used photos of the day that we post on our site. He will be greatly missed.

![dogs in nethermead](/content/images/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/lss-702x443.jpg)

Photo via [Randi Lass / The Nethermead](https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10206180589581159&set=a.10206168467958126.1073742007.1456682899&type=3&theater)

**[Dogs were mysteriously sickened](/blog/animals/narcotic-poisoning-suspected-after-multiple-dogs-in-prospect-park-become-sick/)** in the [Nethermead](https://www.prospectpark.org/visit-the-park/things-to-do/dogs/?ref=bklyner.com) in late September / early October. Garry Osgood, president of [FIDO](http://www.fidobrooklyn.org/?ref=bklyner.com) (Fellowship For The Interests of Dogs & Their Owners) reached out to the FIDO community to let them know that the sickened dogs could have eaten human feces laced with narcotics. “The narcotics users are ‘taking dumps in the park’ that are subsequently munched on by dogs is a pretty easy conclusion to reach,” explained Osgood, “especially since vets are identifying the agent as a narcotic, but one shouldn’t overlook other possibilities.”

![smoke the cat](/content/images/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/smoke2-702x447.jpg)

Smoke the cat relaxing after being found. (Photo by Jim Greene)

**[Oh Smoke the cat, where did you go](/blog/animals/keep-an-eye-out-for-smoke-the-cat/)**? After a search for Jim Greene’s feline friend throughout the neighborhood, **[Smoke was finally found in Red Hook](/blog/animals/feel-good-feline-finale-smoke-cat/)**. Greene explained that Smoke was found and taken in by Terri Steele, who is the owner of [Steele Pilates](http://www.teristeelepilates.com/?ref=bklyner.com). “She called me after her daughter saw a poster of Smoke,” said Greene. Greene’s relentless postering as well as local media coverage helped out the cause, and we’re so happy this one had a happy ending.

![Dining with dogs](/content/images/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/dwithd-702x542.jpg)

Photo via [jernami](https://instagram.com/p/3zTYZ2HIUZ/?tagged=dogsinbars&ref=bklyner.com)

Neighbors rejoiced and pooches yowled when the **[“Dining With Dogs” bill passed](/blog/animals/park-slope-pooches-rejoice-dining-dogs-bill-passes/)** in October. Only a year before, the [Department of Health (DOH) banned dogs](/blog/animals/doh-ruins-all-our-fun-and-bans-dogs-at-the-gate) from [The Gate ](http://www.thegatebrooklyn.com/?ref=bklyner.com)(321 5th Avenue at 3rd Street), a particularly dog-friendly bar.

“\[We’re\] happy to see that the city is able to adapt to be honest. Thrilled for our dog owning patrons,” said Gate owner Bobby Gagnon. “We have been a responsible, involved member of this community for nearly 20 years and have made lasting friendships, canines included (The Gate’s patron saint is a rescue named ‘Walter’; and much of our charity has been dog-related so it is especially satisfying). We are truly a dog friendly city now.”

![Gowanus Gowanus Canal three-eyed fishthree-eyed fish](/content/images/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/threeeyed-702x365.jpg)

Photo via [Gothamist/Daily Motion](http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x3cy2lw%5Fthree-eyed-fish%5Fnews?ref=bklyner.com)

**[We never bought this fish tale in the first place](/blog/animals/catch-day-gowanus-canal-man-claims-hooked-three-eyed-fish/)**, but figured we’d take the bait when the story came out (Sorry).

In a yarn straight out of a [Simpson’s episode](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aADFwmhYE7I&ref=bklyner.com), a man claimed to catch a three-eyed fish from the Gowanus Canal. And this clip supposedly shows a [video of the lil’ beast](http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x3cy2lw%5Fthree-eyed-fish%5Fnews?ref=bklyner.com) that could easily win “Worst Acting At A Superfund Site” in 2015.

It may not come as a surprise to you that Queens College biology professor [John Waldman](http://qcpages.qc.edu/Biology/Waldman/?ref=bklyner.com) believes the three-eyed fish is in fact an urban-nautical myth. [The New York Times reports](http://nyti.ms/1iS5o5r?ref=bklyner.com) John Waldman wrote that “Everything is wrong here \[…\] You’d never find a freshwater bullhead in the saltwater Gowanus Canal. As I said, to find it there is just too perfect. Plus the fish appears dead. Catfish live for hours out of the water. And the ‘acting’ seems forced.”

![Red Tailed Hawk and Drone](/content/images/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/reddrone-702x359.jpg)

Courtesy of Rob Bate

**[We had our own drone wars to open up Thanksgiving weekend](/blog/animals/red-tailed-hawkillegal-drone-incident-highlights-concerns-about-birds-in-prospect-park/)**, except this wasn’t a film. A red-tailed hawk took down an illegal drone in Prospect Park. Rob Bate — [Brooklyn Bird Club](http://www.brooklynbirdclub.org/?ref=bklyner.com)’s President — was the one who witnessed the attack.

Bate explains that because of the great concentration of migrating songbirds, Prospect Park is becoming an international destination for birding enthusiasts. “We are at a crossroads of their migration. After passing through our area, birds will then fan out to northern New England and Canada.”

![Painted bunting](/content/images/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/birds-702x496.jpg)

Photo by Rob Bate

**[Birders, neighbors, and the entire city went crazy after a very rare painted bunting](/blog/photos/photo-of-the-day-a-painted-bunting-likes-to-skate/)** made its way to the [LeFrak Skating Center](http://lakesidebrooklyn.com/?ref=bklyner.com) in Prospect Park. “It has been a major draw with hundreds of birders making the trek from all over to see this super colorful bird,” said Bate. “Many birders have never seen this species and nearly all have never seen it in New York State.”

![Hamadryas Baboon ](/content/images/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/Julie-Larsen-Maher-9598_Hamadryas-Baboon-Babies_PPZ_05-02-14-702x467.jpg)

Photo by Julie Larsen Maher/WCS

**[Prospect Park Zoo welcomed a furry new family member only a few weeks ago.](/blog/animals/meet-prospect-park-zoos-adorable-baby-baboon-video/)**

The mini Hamadryas baboon was born on October 22 to 12-year-old female Kaia, and 23-year-old dad Bole, according to the [Wildlife Conservation Society](http://www.wcs.org/?ref=bklyner.com) (WCS). This is Kaia’s second birth at the zoo.

See more of the little guy at Prospect Park Zoo (450 Flatbush Avenue), 10am – 4:30pm, every day. Tickets are $8 for adults, $6 for seniors 65 and older, $5 for kids 3-12, and free for children under 3.

**Have we missed any good animal tales? Let us know at [editor@bklyner.com](mailto:editor@bklyner.com). And wish all of the neighborhood animals and their humans a Happy New Year!**