04 January 2024 , 22:35
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A family have lived out their very own "Christmas miracle" after they were reunited with their pet cat after nine years, because of a charity volunteer and a microchip. Strawberry is a longed-hair cat who went missing in June 2014, having failed to return to her home in Plymouth.
In December last year, she was reunited with her owners - Lee and Jo Harris-Joce. About two years ago, someone was living nearly three miles away in the St. Budeaux region of Plymouth, and found cat Strawberry in a desperate state. They fed her whenever it was feasible, but having contacted the Cats Protection's Plymouth branch they became concerned for the animal's health.
Lizzie Smith, a lost and found volunteer at the branch, commented that Strawberry, now aged 11, was "covered in fleas" but had a microchip. Nevertheless, the hunt to locate her owners turned out to be difficult.
Ms Smith said: "The email linked with Strawberry’s chip was incorrect, so I phoned the number and left a message. After receiving no answer, I went to the address linked with Strawberry’s record a few days later but her owners had moved on. I sent a message to a lady with the same name, asked if she was missing a cat and added a strawberry emoji. Her owner Jo responded almost immediately, she was in shock and elated, it was an emotional moment all round."
Undated handout photo issued by the Cats Protection of (from left to right) Emily and Lee Harris-Joce with Lizzie Smith from Cats Protection with Strawberry, the Long-haired cat that went missing (PA)It was Mr Harris-Joce, 43, and 12-year-old daughter Emily who were the first to see their cat again. Ms Smith met Mr Harris-Joce and Emily at Exeter service station to “shorten the journey for everyone” as the family now lives in Portsmouth.
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Mr Harris-Joce said: “We kept Strawberry’s microchip active in the hope that one day she may be found and we would always have that link. “I was absolutely shocked when I heard the news that Strawberry had been found.”
Mrs Harris-Joce, 36, added: “My daughter was in tears when we told her, she’s so glad to have her back. Strawberry recognised us immediately and has not stopped purring since coming home… it really was a Christmas miracle.”
Jo Harris-Joce with Strawberry (PA)Richard Weeks, a store manager at Jollyes on Coypool Retail Park in Plymouth, was also part of the “Christmas miracle” as he donated a carrier and blanket in time for the reunion, Plymouth Live reports. “I was in the office when Lizzie came into the store, and a member of staff called me onto the shop floor where Lizzie explained the situation,” Mr Weeks said.
“I was so taken back by it and the right thing to do was to help as much as I could after hearing about this amazing story of Strawberry and her long-lost family – just in time for Christmas as well.”
More information about what to do if a cat is found can be accessed here: www.cats.org.uk/found-a-cat