A homeless man has been reunited with his pet rat after she disappeared from the streets of Sydney’s CBD almost two weeks ago.
Chris left his pet rodent Lucy outside Footlocker on Pitt Street when he ducked to a nearby toilet on Saturday April 6.
When he returned moments later, his adored pet was nowhere to be seen and he was forced to launch a frantic search.
The devastated Sydney local contacted police to investigate the rodent’s disappearance, who believed they were dealing with a cruel theft.
A homeless man has been reunited with his pet rat after she disappeared from the streets of Sydney’s CBD almost two weeks ago
Chris (centre) left his pet rodent Lucy outside Footlocker on Pitt Street when he ducked to a nearby toilet on Saturday April 6
With the help of social media, police urged Sydney locals to spread the word to reunite the duo.
On Thursday, almost two weeks after her disappearance, Sydney City Police Area Command returned Lucy to her owner.
In a video shared by NSW Police, Chris eagerly waited as a police officer approached him with a cardboard box containing a brown and white rat.
‘Let’s hope it’s the right rat,’ Chris says.
He reaches his arm into the box and craddles the rodent before giving her a welcome home kiss.
‘She remembers me,’ he says, confirming the rodent is his missing rat.
On Thursday, almost two weeks after her disappearance, Sydney City Police Area Command returned Lucy to her owner
‘Sorry to put you all through the trouble looking for her.’
Chris said it felt ‘wonderful’ to have Lucy back and thanked officers for their efforts.
On Monday, police released CCTV footage of a woman who they believed could assist with finding Lucy.
While they initially believed the rat was nabbed, a member of the public told police they took Lucy to take care of her after noticing she was unattended.
‘A woman, who walked past and saw Lucy alone, believed she had been abandoned, so took her home and cared for her,’ NSW Police said.
In a video shared by NSW Police, Chris eagerly waited as a police officer approached him with a cardboard box containing a brown and white rat
Chris said it felt ‘wonderful’ to have Lucy back and thanked officers for their efforts
Lucy was retrieved by police on Thursday, before an emotional reunion with her owner.
Social media users commended NSW Police for the heartwarming story.
‘Oh I’m soooo happy. I spoke to him on Monday and he was still devastated but hopeful that Lucy would be returned. So wonderful she’s back with her owner,’ one person wrote.
‘Great work NSW police and all who shared, this has made my day, yay Lucy,’ commented another.
The 59-year-old pet owner last week told Daily Mail Australia he had just gone to the bathroom across the road and when he returned, his pet was gone.
Lucy was retrieved by police on Thursday, before an emotional reunion with her owner
‘I don’t want to press charges against the person who stole Lucy. I just want her back.’
The homeless man has become a local identity in the city with numerous people on their way to work stopping to pat the rat as it sat perched on its milk crate.
‘Almost everyday since I started my job in the city Chris and his pet rat Lucy have sat in the same spot, Chris chatting to passersby and Lucy happily munching, sleeping and looking on,’ one distressed person said in a Facebook post.
‘They are a feature of Sydney city life and I have always smiled when I see them & felt glad they had each other.’
Another person said: ‘I’ve passed him so many times he’s always been so friendly my son is always amazed that he has a pet ray that doesn’t try and run away.’
Lucy (pictured) disappeared outside Footlocker on Pitt Street, Sydney CBD, on Saturday April 6
Homeless man Chris, pictured with Lucy, told Daily Mail Australia he had just gone to the bathroom across the road and when he returned, his pet was gone
A couple had gifted the rat to Chris when the rodent was only four-weeks-old.
‘She was family. I would lean down to her and say, ‘how are you?’ and she would get up on her hind legs and give me a peck.
‘She only bit me once, but that was because I was feeding pigeons out of my hand and I rubbed my mouth and she would’ve thought there was food on my lips or something,’ he laughed.
While lettuce and corn was the pet’s favourite food, Chris admitted Lucy had her weaknesses.
‘She loved cakes. I would also let her drink a bit of coke mixed with water or coffee as a treat.’
And just as locals shared in the good times, there were also several down moments.
Only six weeks ago, a tumour was removed from the rat, though thankfully the pet made a full recovery.
A photo of Chris shows the homeless man sullenly sitting next to his crate. Over the top is a blue blanket, where the rat normally rests on. Attached to the bare crate, is the sign imploring for help to find his pet
The homeless man has become a local identity in the city with numerous people on their way to work stop and pat the rat as it sat perched on its milk crate
A photo shows the pet perched on the crate, next to its bowl of water with chewed lettuce and corn scraps nearby