When Aria Pendak Jefferson害羞草研究所檚 cat ran away while the family was in Ucluelet two years ago, she was despondent. The three-year-old regarded ChiChi, a black and white tuxedo cat, as her best friend.
Now almost six and with several other cats in the house, Aria never lost hope that she would see ChiChi again.
On Wednesday, her wish came true.
害羞草研究所淪he just ran out the door and never came back,害羞草研究所� Aria害羞草研究所檚 mother, Ashley Jefferson said about the day the cat went missing. She was staying at a friend害羞草研究所檚 house in Ucluelet at the time while in the process of moving.
害羞草研究所淪he was heartbroken. She didn害羞草研究所檛 give up though,害羞草研究所� Jesse Pendak said of his and Ashley害羞草研究所檚 daughter, who was a few months older than the cat. ChiChi had been born on Pendak害羞草研究所檚 bed, so Aria was with her since she was born.
害羞草研究所淭hey grew up together,害羞草研究所� Jefferson said. The adults assumed the worst about the family cat.
Courtney Johnson and her partner, Barry Edge, own Image West in Ucluelet. Just before Easter a friend told Courtney that there was a friendly stray cat in the parking lot of the Canadian Princess across the street. Johnson feeds a small group of feral cats in the neighbourhood so she went over to see how she could help the stray.
She brought the cat home, called her Scrappy and spent four hours patiently cutting mats out of her fur. 害羞草研究所淪he ate her weight in kitty food. I was amazed at how calm she was,害羞草研究所� Johnson said.
It was a stroke of luck and social media that brought the two families together.
害羞草研究所淚 (occasionally) checked the Ucluelet Facebook page to see if she was randomly posted,害羞草研究所� Jefferson said. 害羞草研究所淚 hadn害羞草研究所檛 checked in about six months. I randomly checked one day and Courtney, the lady who (has) her, had posted a photo害羞草研究所攁nd I knew it was her.害羞草研究所�
ChiChi has unique colourings on her face, including a black nose. Even though she is smaller than when she went missing there was no mistaking the photo on Facebook was the Pendaks害羞草研究所� cat.
害羞草研究所淚 didn害羞草研究所檛 believe it at first,害羞草研究所� Pendak said.
害羞草研究所淚 was shocked,害羞草研究所� Jefferson said. 害羞草研究所淭his little one (Aria) never stopped thinking she would get her cat back and she was right.害羞草研究所�
ChiChi was found within a 10-minute drive from where she disappeared. 害羞草研究所淚 wish she had a GoPro on her to see what she害羞草研究所檚 been doing all this time,害羞草研究所� Johnson said.
When Johnson said ChiChi害羞草研究所檚 name for the first time the cat sat up and looked at her. 害羞草研究所淪he would sleep in my bathtub,害羞草研究所� Johnson said.
害羞草研究所淪he would sleep in my bathtub too,害羞草研究所� Jefferson said.
On Wednesday, April 21, the two families met halfway, in a parking lot in Port Alberni, to exchange the cat. Aria wore a special pink dress for the occasion and waited shyly as Johnson and Edge drove up in their orange Tacoma truck. When it was time for Aria to be reunited with her best furry friend, ChiChi sat on the shadowed pavement in a harness and leash and accepted pets.
When Aria picked her up, ChiChi began purring. Aria grinned. 害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檓 so happy,害羞草研究所� she said.
Johnson was at peace seeing the reunion. 害羞草研究所淧eople have had a lot of loss. I know I have had loss. I think this is amazing to be able to reunite somebody害羞草研究所檚 friend with her family.
害羞草研究所淗ope deserves to be kept alive.害羞草研究所�
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