'Christmas miracle': Lost feline partner returned to her owner
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EVERETT, Wash. - A local woman and her companion had been through it all - pregnancy, cancer and then loss. But earlier this week that loss turned into an unlikely reunion.
The reunion began with a walk down the hallway for Loni Fitzgerald and her family. With her husband and child at her sidem the Everett mom's family was whole again.
It's been a year and one week since Loni has had all four members of her family in one place.
But thanks to technology and what Loni calls a Christmas miracle - her beloved cat Claire is home.
"She's just a baby," says Loni. "She's only 2. She left when she was 1."
But to appreciate why this reunion matters, you need to know Loni's story.
She was fighting cervical cancer when her cat - her former partner in recovery - went missing. Days turned into weeks, then to months - until she got a call that Claire had been found.
It's a moment Loni never thought she'd get. But earlier this month, Claire was discovered seven miles from her home - and was identified at the Everett Animal Shelter, thanks to a microchip.
That clip helped the shelter link Loni to Claire - a friend who'd been there through both cancer treatment and pregnancy.
Claire doubled in size during her absence and is a bit hairier now, too.
But amid the clicks of the camera, she's still the same - here for Loni then, now and for years to come.
The Everett Animal Shelter says microchips can help reunite more pets and their owners. Officials say it only costs about $40.
The reunion began with a walk down the hallway for Loni Fitzgerald and her family. With her husband and child at her sidem the Everett mom's family was whole again.
It's been a year and one week since Loni has had all four members of her family in one place.
But thanks to technology and what Loni calls a Christmas miracle - her beloved cat Claire is home.
"She's just a baby," says Loni. "She's only 2. She left when she was 1."
But to appreciate why this reunion matters, you need to know Loni's story.
She was fighting cervical cancer when her cat - her former partner in recovery - went missing. Days turned into weeks, then to months - until she got a call that Claire had been found.
It's a moment Loni never thought she'd get. But earlier this month, Claire was discovered seven miles from her home - and was identified at the Everett Animal Shelter, thanks to a microchip.
That clip helped the shelter link Loni to Claire - a friend who'd been there through both cancer treatment and pregnancy.
Claire doubled in size during her absence and is a bit hairier now, too.
But amid the clicks of the camera, she's still the same - here for Loni then, now and for years to come.
The Everett Animal Shelter says microchips can help reunite more pets and their owners. Officials say it only costs about $40.
What a wonderful gift to receive. I know all to well how it feels to lose a pet. My cat disappeared almost 4 years ago. I still have hope that someday I will get the call from the micro-chip company saying he has been found.
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It is truly inspiring to see families like this have such a happy reunion. Congratulations to Loni and her family.Â
I love my kitties too. Their relative, the dog, has an owner. Cats, well, they have staff!
Thank you micro chipping! My dog, one 4th of a July (she's a shy, timid thing that spooks easily) got spooked by some late night July 4th fireworks. Some how she got loose and took off. 16 frantic hours later, I'm at the county animal control office 20 miles away to pick up my little girl. She was soaked, filthy, frantic and very hungry, and found wandering a very busy highway 11 miles from where we live. Wouldn't have known she was there if not for the microchip. Boy she was as glad to see her momma as I was to see her. $45 is what the vet charged me for each pet. Worth every penny.
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On a side note-any time your address changes (mailing or physical), most commonly checked email address, cell phone number and the like-please, please remember to update that with the microchip company. If you don't, the microchip becomes worthless.
Happy news!
Well I must say that's 40$ damn well spent! Very cool! Guess that just proves you just gotta hang on for as long as it takes. Very happy for them about the outcome. :)
...make that "$40." Silly me.
Cool...
Both my cats are microchipped! Microchips are a very good investment!
What a nice story! Animals help you heal in ways doctors can't. They are priceless...
HOORAY! Merry Christmas!!! :*)
Amazing story, so happy, always chip your pets.
@hinterland: So very true. Pets are an integral part of our families. I had Carmen (tortoise shell cat) chipped as soon as she agreed to adopt me. Quite frankly I would be devastated if she wound up missing.
 @usnrbb our cats choose us. I have one male tabby cat and one female maine coon-they love their doggie siblings. While my 2 dogs worship the ground I walk upon, my sole purpose as far as the cats have made it know, their humans are here to serve them 24/7 and we are to be rewarded once or twice a month with a freshly killed rodent of some sort. To be presented to us on our bed at 4 am.
@ BlueJedi:  "Rewards"~ SO TRUE! When my now 19 year old son was a toddler, we had a Ragdoll cat that decided the boy belonged to him. Every morning the cat would serve my son "breakfast in bed" by leaving a gift on his pillow! Mice, a baby squirrel, small rabbit, a snake; once even a BAT! I got used to going in to wake my angel & dealing with the dead gift every morning.Â
One major mistake in the headline, a person does not own a cat but the cat owns the person.
 @Furd very true. I own 3 cats and 2 dogs. One thing I've learned-For a dog, his master is king of the universe. But to a cat your nothing more than the hired help.
 @BlueJedi My number one cat is Douglas, a Balinese mix and he is quite adamant in making me know that he is the owner and I am the pet. I also have Toby HissCat who lives with me and Squirmy who sort of lives with me.