Think about how frustrating it would be to lose your favorite socks. It might not seem like a big deal, but it can really bug you, right?
Now, picture losing your cat for 12 whole years. That’s a lot of time to be missing someone! Well, that’s exactly what happened to Michelle Watkin.
One night, her cherished cat, Finn, disappeared, leaving her sad and her house feeling empty. He went missing in 2011 after he went outside like he usually did.
Michelle looked everywhere for him, day and night, but she couldn’t find him. She had gotten Finn when he was just a tiny eight-week-old kitten, so losing him was really hard for her.
There were no signs of him, and she was really worried. She searched all over, put up flyers, and even reached out to Petlog, where he was microchipped, as she shared in an interview:
“Finn went out as usual one evening, but disappeared without trace. I put up lost pet posters and leaflets through doors, reported him missing to local vets, walked the streets looking for him and reported him missing to Petlog, who he is chipped with.”
But poor Finn was still missing. Years passed, and Michelle thought she might never see her furry buddy again.
Just when she had lost all hope, she got a surprising phone call that made her heart race. Finn had been found!
After 12 long years of waiting, the vets had found a small male cat just under two miles from her home, and when they checked his microchip, her information popped up!
But where had Finn been all this time? It’s hard to imagine what he went through! Luckily, within an hour, Finn was back home.
He had become somewhat feral, probably from living outside, but Michelle noticed someone had been feeding him.
However, their reunion felt like a miracle. Michelle was shocked to see her long-lost cat, who looked a bit rough around the edges but still had his unique personality.
Finn, on the other hand, seemed a bit confused. “Hey, I thought you were supposed to be gone forever,” he probably thought.
It took a while for Finn to get used to his old life again. He was a bit more untamed than he used to be after years of being a stray. But with Michelle’s love and patience, he slowly adjusted back to his familiar routine.
Now, Michelle is on a mission to spread the word about how important it is to microchip pets.
This tiny action can really help lost animals find their way back home. As she mentioned:
“Please get your pets microchipped and ensure your contact details are kept up to date. If you find a lost or seemingly stray cat, immediately try and get them checked for a chip. If your pet is missing report it to your microchip database, local vets, and use social media. Above all, never give up hope.”
So, if you own a pet, don’t forget to get them microchipped and keep your contact details updated. And if you find a lost pet, remember to look for a microchip. You could help bring them back to their family, just like Michelle did with Finn!
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