'Dopey' the cat reunited with his south Sacramento family after 6 years

sacbee ^ | June 23, 2009 | Bill Lindelof

[JoeProBono]

Dopey, a long-eared, droopy-eyed orange tabby that was missing six years from his south Sacramento home, has been reunited with his family. He's a little heavier but remains the same lovable Dopey owner Donna Lane-Mills remembered. "I was shocked when they told me he was found," said Lane-Mills. The long-lost feline apparently lived for awhile in Rancho Cordova where he was cared for by a woman who later gave him to her grandmother in Yolo County.

When her grandmother died, Dopey was turned into the Yolo County Animal Shelter in Woodland. There, the shelter staff discovered an American Kennel Club (AKC) Companion Animal Recovery chip that Lane-Mills had her veterinarian implant under Dopey's skin several years before. The AKC left a voice-mail message at Lane-Mills' home, informing her Dopey had been found in the Yolo shelter. "Dopey?" she thought. She listened to the message again, sure, as was the rest of her family, that Dopey already had used up his nine lives.

"He was a favorite of my youngest daughter who was just 6 years old at the time of his disappearance," Lane-Mills said. "She was crying herself to sleep at night saying, "I miss my Dopey.' We thought he had been hit by a car." Figuring there was a mix-up, Lane-Mills called the Yolo shelter and asked an employee to describe the cat. The shelter perfectly described Dopey, so named because of his unorthodox features. "He has a distinctive face," said Lane-Mills. She went to the shelter that day, and workers said Dopey, being 9 years old, probably never would have been adopted because of his age, Lane-Mills said. She was more than happy to bring the cat home.

[JoeProBono]

His distinctive features intact, Dopey was recognized by his family after being missing for several years.

[a fool in paradise]

"Dopey Cat, Reporting for Du-ty!"

[DCBryan1]

awwww....dopey looks like our “daisy”...

[Slings and Arrows]

[mel]

Thanks so much, we need these happy animal stories to relieve the Zero pain. thanks again.
I am happy for Dopey

[Monkey Face]

Awwww...

Hugs to Dopey and his family! I love happy endings!

[Lee N. Field]

doesn’t look all that grateful to me. Typical cat.

[Cheburashka]

[JoeProBono]

[GOP Golfer]

ping

[Monkey Face]

I’ve dealt with a few bald dwarfs in my day...some of them were definitely Dopey...(maybe i say that cuz i’m still waiting for my Prince...?)

[TheOldLady]

Oh, what a delightful story. I hope that Dopey lives a long and happy life.

[who knows what evil?]

...almost a Siamese structure to Dopey’s head. A little hanky-panky in the background..?

[Buckeye McFrog]

Happy Ending! (he could have just as easily ended up on a dinner table in Rio Linda...)

[Sigurdrifta]

“Dogs have masters...
Cats have staff”

[siamesecats]

Oh, so GLAD he’s home.
Looks like he has some siamese in him, angular face, big ears LOL

[Slings and Arrows]

I love a happy ending too.

[Monkey Face]

:o])

[I am Richard Brandon]

I adopted a 7 year old male cat from the local pound - fat as they come - 18 pounds - and declawed on the front (which I think is a crime, especially when he jumps on the sofa and then slowly slides backwards untiul he ends up on the floor). He is the most annoying cat I have come across, and must be taken to his food every 5 minutes like Rush's cat unless I want a begging cat sitting at my feet forever. But with all his faults which must have been learned from his previous servant, he is an absolute joy that only a cat servant would understand.

[tillacum]

Just remember, dogs have masters, cats have “staff” to do their will.