This is Zero Avenue in South Surrey, and these picturesque homes sit smack on the border. This side is Canada, across the street, the United States. No fences or concrete blocks, just a little ditch and signs warning, “Don’t even think about crossing.”
Oh, it’s very secure, yeah. And people follow the rules, except for one resident. Him. Unfazed by jurisdictional authority, he is the Canadian border-jumping kitty cat.
Illegal.
What?
I think it’s because he’s got four legs, not two.
Decidedly confident, ignoring the watchful gaze of border agents and that machine in the sky that’s as useful as the dog as far as he’s concerned. Several times a day, almost every day, he shows little interest in international law and carries on his very important work of mousing.
He’s a cool little cat, keeps coming back and forth and says hello to everybody.
His name?
Louis.
Officially, Louis Vuitton, like the designer. And his styling cross-border feline feats are now so famous.
I love it.
He’s become a local legend and a social media star.
It’s a bit mind-blowing.
He kind of flaunts his recklessness for the law.
Now, Mr. Vuitton is particularly good at catching all sorts, and he has been known to smuggle the goods across the border and leave them on the doorstep.
I bet he did not declare them.
We’re not sure whether US agents have caught up with him for questioning.
We do know he had no interest in a TV interview.
Doesn’t go through customs.
He’s got a passport.
If he did, it would show the cat who turned six on July 1st, Canada Day, will hop back over the line when he’s good and ready.
Sinjin Alexander, CTV News, Surrey.
| picturesque | festői |
| to sit smack | pont odaülni / pont ott ülni |
| concrete | beton |
| ditch | árok |
| resident | lakos |
| unfazed | higgadt, nem jön zavarba |
| jurisdictional authority | joghatósági hatóság / illetékes hatóság |
| decidedly confident | határozottan magabiztos |
| to ignore | figyelmen kívül hagyni / nem törődni valamivel |
| watchful glaze | éber tekintet |
| border agent | határőr |
| to show little interest in | kevés érdeklődést mutat vmi iránt |
| to carry on (work) | folytatni (a munkát) |
| to come back and forth | ide‑oda járkálni / ingázni |
| feline | macskaféle |
| mind-blowing | elképesztő |
| to flaunt | fitogtatni / kérkedni |
| recklessness | vakmerőség / meggondolatlanság |
| to smuggle | csempészni |
| on the doorstep | a küszöbön / közvetlen közelben |
| to bet | fogadni |
| to declare | kijelenteni / bevallani (pl. vámnál) |
| customs | vám / vámhatóság |
| to hop back | visszaugrani |
