We moved in August with our two free-range cats from one side of Boone, NC to the other.  Knowing we should keep them indoors for at least a month, we were careful, but 4-year old Riley slipped out just 3 days in our new home. He circled the house twice and then was gone.

 After almost 3 months missing on the day before Thanksgiving, we received a call from Shiloh Animal Hospital near Raleigh, NC. A Good Samaritan found Riley on their deck under a chair canvas cover of their vacation home atop Appalachian Ski Mountain in Boone. They coaxed him out with food, then brought him inside for the night (there was a low of 18 degrees!). The next day they took Riley with them to their home near Raleigh, NC intending to adopt him, stopping by their vet for a checkup. And, of course, the vet found his microchip.

 I believe Riley was heading to his former home and he was about halfway there. The distance is only 5 miles “as the crow flies” but on foot, very difficult terrain.  Somehow, he managed to travel over a busy 4-lane highway, cross the South Fork of the New River and several streams, evade the many predators in the area, then work his way up to the top of App Ski Mountain.  With winter approaching though, little game to catch, and NO fat reserves, he probably would not have made it.

The PetLink chip worked and we are so thankful.  While Riley would have found a new home with the good Samaritans, we would have never known what happened to him.  AND we would never have been reunited.  It was a Thanksgiving miracle and gift.

  • carleen:

    so happy for you getting your sweet riley back!


  • Sana Jamil:

    What a beautiful story. So happy for Riley and his guardians 💕💕💕


  • Gayle:

    What a wonderful, miraculous story of little Riley. I believe God was truly watching over him and used the Good Samaritan to help get him home to you.  What joy!  Praise God!  I hope he has a long, wonderful life with you.  All my fur babies are microchipped.  What a blessing. 


  • Karen C:

    So glad you have Riley back.  Hug him extra long!


  • Kathryn Wilson:

    😻😻


  • Virginia Johnson:

    Thank you for your wonderful story; we are so glad you were reunited!
    We have chipped all our cats and dogs since the inception of chips.
    Years back, before chips were available my Vanilla Cream Coon Hound got out during a blizzard with over three feet of snow already on the ground. Only through the magnificent generosity of time and effort from PetFinders – some 18 local members went out in the snow for over 8 hours to help find her – and we did!!! 
    You can just imagine how happy I was to hear about the first chips to come to market!!


  • Jane:

    Hopefully he will be an indoor cat! 


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