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Not many customers get to the front desk at Elam Accounting & Tax Service before Pepper greets them.

Pepper is a black cat with hints of white fur that Mary Elam refers to as a “stress buster.”

Elam, who started her own business in 2006, said once Pepper starts rubbing on customers and purring, they often comment on how that helps them relax — an important thing to do in the midst of a stressful tax filing.

Pepper has been in Elam’s office for about two years. She showed up at Elam’s house as a stray. Her husband — not a fan of animals — was traveling at the time.

“I thought, I’ll just take her and hide her at my office and he’ll never know,” Elam said.

Elam did try to find a home for the cat to no avail. Noticing that Pepper was de-clawed, Elam didn’t want to let her roam free without being able to defend herself.

After she decided to keep the cat, Elam’s plan was to take Pepper to and from work, but she meowed constantly in the car.

“Well, that mewing I couldn’t take, so I just left her here,” Elam said. “This is her home.”

Since then she’s been a stress reliever for clients and employees.

“She makes me laugh,” Elam said, noting that Pepper will jump around chasing flies or play with pen caps for hours.

Having her own business gives Elam the flexibility to have a pet at work. She started the business after her mother died and she needed to care for her father.

“When you work for someone else — especially during tax season — you can’t take off,” Elam said.

It has also given her flexibility for location.

“I really like the small-town, hometown feeling,” Elam said.

THE DETAILS

Elam Accounting & Tax Servicen 121 E. Washington St.n 903-3526n 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Wednesdayn 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursdayn 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday

Kearney Editor Kevin M. Smith can be reached at 628-6010 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

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