Posted on 05/14/2009 2:20:01 PM PDT by JoeProBono
When Charlie, a 5-year-old black and white cat, went missing two years ago, Kristian Codero and her family never gave up hope of finding him again.
“Every time we would see a black and white cat, we had to stop and see if it was Charlie,” Kristian said.
Charlie has distinctive markings on the underside of his chin, but each time the Coderos looked under a cat’s chin, it turned out not to be Charlie.
Not knowing what had happened to Charlie made the loss especially hard for 12-year-old Kallie Codero.
“She’s cried ever since the day we lost him,” Kristian said, adding that they feared Charlie had become the victim of a coyote attack.
Last week, on a trip to Petsmart to pick up food for the guinea pig, the family’s two-year dream was realized when 10-year-old Karrah spotted the wayward Charlie in the window of the Field Haven Feline Rescue booth.
“He lifted his head, and I thought, ‘Oh my God, that’s him,’ ” Kristian said. “I knew it was Charlie, and I asked the (Petsmart) worker if I could get in there, but he said only Field Haven has the key.”
Kristian called the number on the window, but it was after hours, and she got a recording.
“I sat down. I wouldn’t leave until I had talked to someone,” Kristian said.
Fortunately, a separate phone number was posted for after-hours calls, and Kristian got in touch with Field Haven, setting up a time to meet the next day and bring Charlie home.
Shortly after noon on Thursday, Joy Smith and Jen Paul from Field Haven met Kristian at Petsmart.
It was a tearful reunion as Smith handed Charlie to Kristian, reuniting the cat with his owner after a nearly two-year odyssey.
The Codero family moved to Lincoln in January, 2007, and Charlie, who liked to spend time in the garage, went missing six months later.
The Coderos took repeated trips to the Placer County SPCA and made calls to animal control and other shelters, but none bore fruit.
Field Haven rescued Charlie outside The Home Depot on October, 2007, finding him skinny and hungry.
“Charlie never was much of a hunter,” Kristian said. “His brother was always the hunter.”
Both Charlie and his brother have belonged to the Coderos since they were kittens.
When Field Haven couldn’t find an owner, Charlie was put up for adoption, and went to live with another Lincoln family.
Charlie, however, had “litterbox issues,” according to Smith, and the distraught family brought him back after a year.
The “litterbox issues” warranted a series of medical tests, but nothing was physically wrong with Charlie, who spent most of his time at Field Haven quietly.
For one week, Charlie was put into the booth at Petsmart, and it happened to be the week the Coderos needed to buy food for the guinea pig.
“This is just too crazy,” Kristian said. “It was meant to be.”
As soon as he saw Kristian, Charlie came to life, leaving his quiet side behind as he recognized his long-lost family.
“He’s never been this perky with us,” Paul said.
Kristian hugged Charlie to her chest and stroked his head as Smith and Paul watched, alternately fighting tears and laughing.
“We always say that miracles happen at Field Haven,” Paul said. “This is just another one.”
Troof.
Heil, Kitler!!!
..and I pity yours...
Thank you! That is one of the best explanations I’ve ever read. I didn’t know there were jurisdictions like that! What you say makes a lot of sense to me, and sure explains to the critics how cats and dogs differ basically.
Call me when your cat gets plinked or run over. I’ll still cry with you.
How cute of you. Well, I love you too, dear.
When I see your posts, I think of this:
LOLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!
You wanna ask the cat? Unbelievable.
No, I don’t want to ask the cat. I don’t ask small children what they think is good for them, so why would I consult a cat, assuming it were possible... What’s unbelievable is that you think that cats have some inalienable right to roam on other peoples property.
Frankly I don’t care if your cat wants to come into my yard. The point is that I don’t want it there. And that’s that.
I love animals and have had many in my home and have taken proper care of them by keeping them on my property. People have an obligation to take proper care of pets and see to it that they don’t become other peoples problems or come to harm.
I am aware that you think cats are somehow special and deserve to roam. What you need to realize is that many people disagree. Knowing that, you place your cat in danger by letting it roam.
If her cat were in my yard, it’s fair game for my Dawg (Yeah, that’s his name) to go “play” with it. He loves cats.
LOL. But, I only have 3—it’s equivalent to having ‘1’ smelly dirty crap-eating needy smelly dog.
Avoiding the issue of responsible pet ownership isn’t she?
Personally, I have always thought enough of my pets to take care of them and not turn them loose and trusting the rest of the world to love them as I do.
I also don’t malign other peoples choice of pet, even if they are not my choice to have.
You’re still a friggin nutcase, and I mean that in the kindest possible way. :)
I hear you and agree completely.
Obvioulsy you don’t know me....but i know your type.
Fawn, how about responding to my #50 instead of turning this into name calling “cats are cool and dogs stink” conversation.
I would really like to know why you think cats are special and should be allowed to roam at will.
I imagine you would have issue with my horse, dog or ferret invading your yard, digging holes, eating your bushes and pooping all over the place.
What possible reason, other than they want to, is there for allowing cats to run all over? It isn’t even safe to allow them to run free. All creatures used to roam free, then we domisticated some. Can’t have it both ways.
I know your type well, also. They used to keep them locked up in “state hospitals”. Electrotherapy was common, too.
I rescued my two from almost certain feral status when they were just 12 weeks old. That was 4 years ago. They still have no interest in going outside. I’m OK with that. :)
I asked BOTH of my cats, and one said, “Mmmrrow” (”Mommy feed me”), and the other one said, “AAAAAow” (”Mommy pet me”). I answered, “mmroWWWW,” and the first one said, “rruhh” (”Okay”). I speak cat with a human accent, but they understand me.
They never try to go outside, and they’re just fine. They said so. :-)
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