Photo, Wisconsin Humane Society
Racine, WI – Lindsay O’Neill was shocked when she got the call on Tuesday that her cat, Sammie, had turned up at the Wisconsin Humane Society Racine Campus. Sammie had been lost since going missing five years ago.
For the past several months, a local resident had seen the 8-year-old tabby cat hanging out around her home. The finder began to worry when the weather started to turn cold, so she brought Sammie into the Wisconsin Humane Society (WHS) Racine Campus, where he was scanned for a microchip.
Unlike most strays, Sammie had a microchip, which was registered to O’Neill. Shelter officials called her, and the two were happily reunited Tuesday afternoon.
O’Neill was stunned to learn that Sammie had resurfaced after such a long time. She had concerns that his health might have deteriorated and his personality could have changed, but says that besides a skin infection and a healed mouth injury, he is the same affectionate cat she knew five years ago.
Alison Kleibor, director of the WHS Racine Campus, wants the public to take notice of the importance of microchips. “Microchips make reunions like this possible. They are inexpensive and very effective,” Kleibor said. “Every area shelter scans stray animals, and every animal is at risk for becoming lost, no matter how careful you are.”
The Wisconsin Humane Society offers microchip implantation for just $25 at their vaccine clinics.
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The Wisconsin Humane Society (WHS) is the oldest and largest animal shelter in Wisconsin. It was founded in 1879 and operates shelters in Milwaukee, Ozaukee and Racine Counties. The organization offers adoption services, educational programming, spay/neuter clinics for animals from low-income households, retail stores, volunteer programs and dog training classes. The Milwaukee shelter also houses the state’s largest Wildlife Rehabilitation Center. For more information, visit Wisconsin Humane Society.
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