Missing cat reunited with owner after 11 years

Metroland News Service: Eleven years ago, Dinah, the black cat went missing from the Lowden family home after they moved from Oakville to Hamilton.

 

To say the cat’s got their tongues on seeing Dinah return might be an understatement.
Dinah, then a four-year-old long-haired tabby, wandered away from the Lowden’s east Mountain home in the fall of 2001, a few weeks after the family had relocated from Oakville.
The family put up posters, scoured the neighbourhood and called Hamilton Animal Control, but eventually they accepted Dinah was gone and moved on. They had a cat named Bruce and he was soon joined by Alex.
Animal Control called the family Tuesday to tell them it had Dinah at its Dartnall Road headquarters and she had been found a block away from the family’s Wellwood Street home. They were able to trace her through a microchip the Oakville SPCA put under Dinah’s fur and first spoke to Steve Lowden, 55.
“Animal control called and told my husband, ‘We have one of your cats,’” said Wendy Lowden, 55, Wednesday when she came to retrieve Dinah, now going on 15.
“He turned around and counted our cats and said, ‘No, you don’t.’ When they explained it to him, he just about passed out.”
“At first, it’s kind of disbelief. How can it be? Our friends can’t believe it. It’s such a feel good story. If ever there was an advertisement for microchipping, this is it.”
It was a sweet reunion, although Dinah was a bit reticent. Lowden, a lay pastoral minister with the United Church, said she would be a bit emotional and, true enough, tears could be seen in her eyes.
“Where have you’ve been?” she asked Dinah as she held her in her arms. “Hi, sweetheart! Boy, do we have a lot to talk about.” Dinah answered with a few meows.
As near as anyone can figure, it’s thought Dinah was taken in by someone who found her wandering the neighbourhood. She’s in good health.
“I think this is absolutely fantastic,” said Sue O’Dwyer, manager of animal services. “Anytime we get a cat claimed in the shelter by the owner we celebrate because it’s so rare that an owner comes in and claims a cat.”
The 10-plus years sets a new record at animal control. The previous length an owner and their cat were apart was about seven years. It also involved a microchip.
While the Lowdens are happy to see Dinah again, they realize there maybe someone out there who misses her after having her in their home for almost 11 years. They’ll give her over if the owner steps forward and asks them to call Animal Control at 905-574-3433.Read here.