A woman from Longmont, Colorado has been reunited with her cat after it went missing ten years ago.
In 2007 Jenn Thompson’s cat, Pilot, left the family’s then-home in Santa Rosa, however, Pilot was recently discovered in the rubble left by the California wildfires on Halloween.
She received the call on October 31 that Pilot, who was badly burned and in extremely poor shape, was alive and was being looked after at the Northern California pet hospital where Thompson’s sister works, according to Times Call.
Jenn Thompson’s cat, Pilot, had been missing for ten years before someone discovered him alive in the rubble left by the California wildfires
Apparently vets had scanned the microchip that had been planted in Pilot when he was just a kitten and they were able to track down Thompson, who now resides in Longmont.
‘It’s pretty crazy,’ she said. ‘I got off the phone and told my husband, and he’s like, “You’re going to go get him, right?” ‘
The couple of course headed to Northern California to get Pilot back who was in need of two surgeries, including one to amputate five of his toes.
Pilot was badly burned and in poor shape but somehow survived the raging wildfires
Thompson headed to Northern California to get Pilot back who was in need of two surgeries
Pilot is now living back in Longmont with Thompson, her husband and their other three cats.
‘I think he recognized my voice and that was pretty cool,’ Thompson said. ‘When I brought him back, he definitely recognized my daughter. Definitely. She was eight-years-old when he went missing. Right away, he went and cuddled up with her. I had no doubt. It’s like, OK, he knows my kid.’
The family got Pilot in 2004, he was just three-years-old when he didn’t come back one night, which left the family devastated.
After checking the local animal shelters with no success they decided Pilot might have been taken by coyotes.
Pilot is now living back in Longmont with Thompson, her husband and their other three cats
Thompson started a GoFundMe page in hopes to raising $500, however her story was an inspiration to so many people and it wildly exceeded her expectations. It’s currently raised over $6,500.
‘When I got the first donation, I cried,’ she said. ‘Everything has been so surreal. And just how many people have been interested and supportive and on Pilot’s side, it’s been really cool.’
‘We’re so happy to have him back and whatever amount of time that is, he’s comfortable and happy now,’ Thompson said.
Pilot had to undergo two surgeries, including one to amputate five of his toes (pictured here)
The family got Pilot in 2004, he was just three-years-old when he didn’t come back one night, which left the family devastated