Imagine receiving a call 6 years after your pet went missing to say that she had been found. Good grief, this incredible story is giving us all the feels!
Johannesburg, South Africa (03 March 2023) – When Shannon and Alex de Ryhove’s cat went missing six years ago, they were devastated but last week, they received a call – a miracle – she had been found and was reunited with the family.
Misty had been such a massive part of their lives. The family was distraught when she went roaming and didn’t return home.
“The heartbreak was immeasurable. Adverts were put up at all the vets in the area, personal searching every day for weeks, Facebook notices were posted, and posters were sent to the SPCA,” Megan O’Donnell, Shannon’s mom, explained to Good Things Guy.
Nothing came of it – there were a few calls saying, “Oh, we saw a black cat,” or “We hear a cat crying”, but nothing substantial.
With sadness in their hearts, life carried on and they eventually got a new rescue kitten, Nina. They moved from Glenvista to Modderfontein but never forgot about “Misty Mist”.
Last week, the family received a voice message from a very teary but happy Shannon on their WhatsApp group. They had found Misty six years after she had gone missing.
“A vet in Glenanda had phoned Shannon and asked if she was missing a kitty called Misty. They had found a cat in a factory in Steeldale, almost 12 kilometres away, checked the microchip and it had all her details on it. She was beside herself, as was Alex.”
Ana Bibis, who volunteers for the Linmeyer Cat Rescue Association (LCARA), took Misty to the Vet. Her daughter, Katia Babis, found the kitty crying in the parking area of the factory where she works in Steeldale. She phoned her mom to say she’s picked up this cat and she would bring her to her mom. Mom then took the cat to the Vet to have her checked and spade, to find it had already been done and that she’d been microchipped too.
When Misty was picked up, she was so hungry that she even ate a whole slice of bread.
“When they got to her, Alex – Misty is actually his cat – picked her up and she immediately fell asleep in his arms. Shannon and Alex just cried. Both of them.”
Shannon and Alex are just so thankful to be reunited with Misty Mist and will be making a donation to LCARA. They also want to remind everyone that microchipping your pets is one of the most important things you can do as a pet owner.
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