A Langley cat returned home after 490 days 害羞草研究所� the owner thanking community Facebook groups for the 害羞草研究所渕iracle.害羞草研究所�

Finley, a feral cat, was found in a forest in Willoughby on Dec. 17, after a Langley resident found him looking for food during the harsh winter season.

Andy Evans, the cat害羞草研究所檚 owner, began distributing missing posters three days after Finley ran away from the house back in August.

After 10 months of fruitless searching, Evans finally got a lead 害羞草研究所� a Facebook post with details about Finley害羞草研究所檚 whereabouts. The cat had been spotted by a member of the community in a forest not far from Evans害羞草研究所� home.

Evans rushed to the forest but couldn害羞草研究所檛 catch Finley 害羞草研究所� who he said was too terrified.

Sarah Jones, executive director of Langley Animal Protection Society (LAPS), said it is tough to rebuild trust with a cat after such a long period of time.

害羞草研究所淵ou never know what the cat has gone through during the period when they are on their own, and hence they might not trust people right away,害羞草研究所� Jones said.

Evans later hired a professional company to set up traps and cameras in the forest.

害羞草研究所淚 spent a fortune on that,害羞草研究所� he said. But, all his efforts went in vain.

He received several more leads on locations of the cat through social media. Evans even drove to the forest after midnight once, but he believes Finley was too scared and didn害羞草研究所檛 trust anyone.

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About 14 months later, Evans received a phone call 害羞草研究所� a Willoughby resident was able to lure the cat into his home by offering food.

Evans 害羞草研究所� overjoyed with happiness 害羞草研究所� drove straight to Finley.

It has been more than a month since Finley害羞草研究所檚 homecoming, and Evans said the cat has not gone out even once since then.

害羞草研究所淚 don害羞草研究所檛 think he has anything to do with outside anymore after living for so long in the forest,害羞草研究所� he added.

While many people have found their pets after months of searching, LAPS害羞草研究所� Jennifer Schroeder was surprised to learn about the 490-day-long search effort.

害羞草研究所淲hat? Wow! that is amazing,害羞草研究所� said Schroeder.

害羞草研究所淲e have found that many people who lose their cats don害羞草研究所檛 microchip or tattoo them, which makes it harder to trace [the cats] back,害羞草研究所� she added.

Schroeder further encouraged people with missing pets to call LAPS to file a lost report. She noted the Aldergrove-based organization has a well-connected network that can help pet owners try to find their loved ones.

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Jones also requested people to reach LAPS if they find a stray cat or dog.

害羞草研究所淲e had a case recently where somebody had taken in a lost cat and didn害羞草研究所檛 report [it]. People need to understand that lost pets need to be returned to their rightful owners and it is important that people use proper resources,害羞草研究所� she elaborated.

Evans was surprised by how social media users came forward to help him.

害羞草研究所淚t was a team effort,害羞草研究所� he said. Evans believes that finding his cat without the help of the neighbourhood Facebook groups would have been an uphill battle.

害羞草研究所淭his was something postive that happened amidst all the negativity that is usually seen on social media,害羞草研究所� he added.

To report missing pets, people can reach out to LAPS at 604-857-5055.