Homing Hairballs: Animals Safe with Nature’s GPS

Announcement posted by Lost Pet Finders 11 May 2016

The website was informative for anyone person trying to locate their pet

Bryna’s cat, Chloe, was adopted from Mosman Park Veterinary Hospital, where her owner’s sister had volunteered over her weekends back in high school. There was something about Chloe that drew their attention. It was either her beautiful tortoiseshell markings, the fact that she seemed to be annoying all her siblings and mother or the cries she made whenever there wasn’t anyone giving her attention, it’s hard to tell. What they did know for sure, though, was that they wanted to give this drama queen a good home and take good care of her. Almost 10 years later, Chloe is still a big part of the family.

Needless to say, when Bryna discovered that Chloe was missing in the first week of March 2016, she was overcome with a combination of worry, panic and upset. The family immediately began to make calls to the local vets in the area, the pound and the local council. When this was unsuccessful, the family began printing out flyers and putting them around the neighbourhood. Fortunately, they then discovered Lost Pet Finders.

The website was informative for anyone person trying to locate their pet - it supplied the public with the necessary information which was definitely helpful. I felt that if there was any way of locating Chloe, this would be it.

By this stage, Chloe had been missing for 2 weeks. There wasn’t a moment to lose in the search for Chloe, so Bryna wasted no time in placing her advert. Lost Pet Finders continued the work of contacting the people living in the area, the vets, the councils and the pounds. The morning after Bryna’s advert was posted, she received an email from the City of Fremantle council saying that the rangers would be on patrol to see if they could find Chloe. She was one step closer to being reunited with her furry friend.

I found the support from the Pet Network overwhelming. It was so good to know that there were people concerned and so willing to help. Knowing that you’re not trying to find your pet alone is reassuring and the wider the network, the more likely you are of finding your pet.

Even more good news was to come. An hour after receiving the email, Bryna received a phone call from someone three streets away, saying that their her husband had seen Chloe come by a week ago and again two days ago. Soon, Bryna received yet another phone call from someone living two streets away. He identified himself as Oliver and he confirmed that he had seen Chloe. Apparently she had been wandering around his house, perhaps because she had been attracted by his own cat. Hearing Oliver’s description of Chloe, Bryna knew for sure that it was her.

Lost Pet Finders not only helped me find Chloe, it felt as though they were really concerned and treated her absence as their responsibility too. It was so reassuring and generous. I hope that this gives others who have lost their pet a sense of hope as it did with me.

As it turns out, the night Chloe wandered off and didn’t come back, she managed to find her way back to their old house. The family had moved two streets over last October, and it would appear that Chloe was missing her old home. Discovering another cat had taken over her territory, Chloe had taken it on herself to reclaim what was once her land!