Missing Cat Returns After Nine Years!, Never give up hope! Options

[gillian]

LONDON (Reuters) - A couple have been reunited with their missing cat after nine years, the RSPCA said on Wednesday.

Dixie, a 15-year-old ginger cat, disappeared in 1999 and her owners thought she had been killed by a car.

But now in 2008, she was found less than half a mile from her home in Birmingham after a concerned resident rang the animal charity to report a thin and dishevelled cat who had been in the area for a couple of months.

RSPCA Animal Collection Officer Alan Pittaway checked her microchip and confirmed it was Dixie. She was returned to her owners, Alan and Gilly Delaney, within half an hour.

"In 29 years of working for the RSPCA I have never seen anyone so excited and happy as Mrs Delaney," Pittaway said. "It made my day to return Dixie to her owners."

The couple were "overjoyed" to be reunited with their missing cat after so many years.

"Dixie's personality, behaviour and little mannerisms have not changed at all," said Gilly Delaney. "We don't think she has stopped purring since she came back through the door."

The RSPCA hope the story will encourage owners to have their pets microchipped.

[gillian]

Isn't it amazing? And so lovely. Dixie was probably wandering the streets as a stray all these years. It's amazing how well they can take care of themselves, feed themselves through hunting and scavaging, and find shelter under bushes. Still, she's much better off to live the rest of her days at home with her family. Just goes to show, you should never think the worst, until you know for certain the worst has happened.

All my pets are microchipped and tagged. All veterinary surgeries and animal control here can check their microchip.

Sebastian is due to be microchipped tomorrow; I want it done before he goes outdoors.