A purr-fect ending!
A beloved family cat that went missing when Hurricane Helene battered the Southeast region last year was miraculously reunited with her loved ones after 443 days missing.
The wayward feline named Gabby was turned over to the Avery Human Society in North Carolina as a stray on Dec. 13, leading workers to discover the poor kitty had been missing since the powerful, deadly storm ripped through the Tar Heel state last September.
The breakthrough came when workers found her microchip, allowing the long-lost cat to be finally reunited with her overjoyed family.
“Yesterday, a sweet cat was brought to us as a stray,” the Newland shelter posted on Facebook Sunday.
“When we scanned her, we discovered she had a microchip. With a little digging, we learned she had gone missing after Hurricane Helene — 443 days ago. Today, after all that time, she is finally back where she belongs — reunited with her family.”
Helene, which made landfall on the coast of Florida on Sept. 26, 2024, marked the second deadliest US storm in two decades. It claimed more than 250 live as it tore through six states, with a majority of the fatalities recorded in North Carolina.
The only storm with a higher death toll in recent memory was Hurricane Katrina.
Moved and tearful followers on social media celebrated the heartwarming reunion, hailing it as a “Christmas miracle.”
“I’m not crying, you’re crying,” one user commented, adding, “Happy tears at least.”
Another said, “This makes my heart happy,” as others lauded the homecoming as a “beautiful story” and a “happy ending.”
The humane society encouraged pet owners to microchip their animals, using Gabby’s joyful return as a prime example of the importance of keeping information current.
“That small step can make the difference between heartbreak and a happy reunion,” the post said.
“After 443 days apart, this family got their miracle — and it all started with a microchip.”
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