Sometimes it truly takes a village.

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Last weekend as a new volunteer with the #MicrochipHuntersILteam, I took the case of a cat at @CACC. The phone number on the microchip registration was no longer active, but I sent an email. The owner replied quickly and let me know that he had been in a car accident that left him unable to care for himself and had been sent to live with family in Florida. He actually had two cats, Anastasia and Lily and was completely heartbroken that due to the accident he did not have the resources to bring them with.
Discussing it further he explained to me how both cats were rescues and he had moved cross country with them twice before. This time as much as he wanted to bring them with it simply was not possible. I could hear his love for them as he described each of their personalities and habits in detail and then his devastation as he talked about being forced to leave them. We both cried and I knew I had to help find a way to get the cats back to him.
I shared the story with the LDI director and she agreed. We got to work right away. Real Estate to the Rescue of Homeless Animals Chicago was contacted and they generously agreed to pay the redemption fees to help get these sweet cats home.
Steve (pictured above) kindly volunteered to take the time out of his day to pick up them up from CACC, and take them to a wonderful family that offered to foster them so they weren't taking up space at the shelter while we worked out how they would get to Florida. What an awesome community effort! Their owner is overjoyed to know he will soon be reunited with his beloved furbabies.
Anastasia and Lily are currently in their foster home doing great and a volunteer transport is in the works.

Part 2 - The Transport.

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We have a fantastic update! Kitties Lily and Anastasia are on their way home to their dad in Orlando. A very sweet and wonderful woman named Kristin was planning to drive there from IL and offered to let the girls ride along! We can't thank her enough!
Foster parents Cheryl and Edgar said goodbye last night, they have taken wonderful care of the girls while we worked on transport and will miss them but are very happy they get to go home. Rockstar #LostDogsIllinois volunteer Jeanette made a last minute, 90 mile, late night trip to get them from the foster home and meet Kristin!
This has been an incredible group effort and would not have been possible without the help of Real Estate to the Rescue of Homeless Animals Chicago! We love that they supported making this reunion happen.
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Part 3 - The Homecoming

Kitties Lily and Anastasia went on a 1,200 mile journey and were finally reunited with their Dad this afternoon!
Our hero Kristin drove the entire way from Illinois to Orlando and delivered them to his house! ❤
From their Dad:
"Please let everyone that was involved know from the bottom of my heart how happy and full of tears I am that my fur babies are at home.
Thank you really just doesn't do this justice, but thanks to everyone for the outpouring of love."