RSCPA: Owner overjoyed to have cat home thanks to a tiny microchip

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Wednesday, 10, Sep 2008 12:00

A Birmingham couple has just about recovered from the shock of being told that their cat was alive and well and was coming home after going missing in 1999.

Dixie the cat was picked up by RSPCA Animal Collection Officer (ACO) Alan Pittaway last month in Linton Walk, Erdington. The ginger and brown cat had reportedly been in the area for two months over which time its condition had worsened. A caring local called the RSPCA asking for assistance for the thin, matted cat.

When Alan Pittaway collected the cat he scanned it as normal for a microchip. The cat was chipped, her named was Dixie, she was 15 years old and was registered to a couple less than half a mile away in Ivyfield Road, Erdington.

Continuing the story, ACO Pittaway said: “I was delighted that the cat was chipped as we pick up so many animals where we have no way of knowing who they belong to. Within half an hour of picking the cat up I was taking her round to her stunned owners who could not believe that they were getting their cat home after giving up hope of ever seeing her again.”

“It made my day to return Dixie to her owners. In 29 years of working for the RSPCA I have never seen anyone so excited and happy as Mrs Delaney. I was over the moon myself to bring their cat home so I can only imagine how they felt seeing their cat again after all these years. I hope this story will encourage more people to have their pets microchipped as if your pet is chipped then you can never give up hope of being reunited with a missing pet.”

Owners of Dixie, Mr Alan and Mrs Gilly Delaney are thrilled to have welcomed Dixie home. Mrs Delaney said: “Words cannot express how overjoyed we are to have Dixie back. She has settled down well into our routine and is getting used to sharing the house with the other three cats.”

“Dixie’s personality, behaviour and little mannerisms have not changed at all. She is still a happy, contented cat who just wants to sit next to you on the sofa and have a fuss. In fact, we don't think she has stopped purring since she came back through the door, so we now have surround sound purring from all of them.”

She continued: “Dixie was a rescue cat that I rehomed with her sister Pixie when she was only six months old. As they were my first ever cats they were always very special to me. When Dixie went missing I put up posters, knocked on people’s doors and contacted the local papers. Someone told me that a cat fitting the description of Dixie had been killed in a road traffic accident so I did think she had died. We lost Pixie to cancer last year and to have Dixie home now is a miracle.”

“We are very grateful to the lady who found her and called the RSPCA, to everyone at the RSPCA for their dedication in finding us and to Alan for his calm and caring presence when returning Dixie to us” said Mrs Delaney.

Anyone interested in finding out more about microchipping should contact their local branch of the RSPCA or their vets.

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Pictures are attached of Mrs Delaney with Dixie the cat. Please credit pictures to RSPCA if used. For further information please contact regional press officer, Judith Haw, on 0300 123 8604.

RSPCA, Wilberforce Way, Southwater, Horsham, West Sussex RH13 9RS

Press office direct lines: 0300 123 0244/0288 Fax: 0303 123 0099

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Email: press@rspca.org.uk Website: www.rspca.org.uk