Share Your #ReunionStory

Rollie Turned Up

Rollie went missing about 3 months ago. We live in a rural area and thought that maybe a snake bit him. Today I received a call from our local vet and they had had him bought in with another snake bite by a man that lives down the road from us.

He had been feeding Rollie for a few months and thought he was a friendly stray. He found Rollie laying on his back step and rushed him to the vet where they scanned him for a microchip and found his details registered to me. Just goes to show that you should ALWAYS GET AN ANIMAL SCANNED FOR A MICROCHIP, because it could just be someone's much loved pet.

- Kirsten

Missing Two Years

Three weeks ago I was playing with my dog when I got a call, didn't recognised the number and was speechless when they told me that our three legged cat Bertie had been handed in to the Monbulk Vet they had checked his microc(ip and rang me. I could not hold my tears as you see my little baby had been missing for nearly two years! I live in Wantirna and when driving up Burwood Highway I would see the Dandenong mountains and think my poor little Bertie would be so cold, We lost him in Monbulk when we went on holiday and he was left in my daughter’s care but he was an escape artist and pushed out her laundry window and was off! Despite letter drops, going out every night for weeks and following all the advice that many lovely people gave me when no sight of him i gradually realised that he may never come home. I was very upset when a young man who had seen one of the posters rang me and told me that he had killed him! I’m sure if the young man’s mother would be ashamed if she knew . Imagine my surprise when we picked him up from the wonderful vets at Monbulk and a big thank you to Carol and Rick from Moores Rd who after many weeks of feeding him and getting him not to be afraid finally got him into a cage! My poor husband who is terminally ill was so overcome with emotion especially when Bertie snuggled up to him and sat on his lap! Within two days he was friends again with our rescue cat Bluey and once again when my husband reads the paper Bertie will draped himself over the paper to get attention. It’s like he has never been gone ! Miracles do happen so, how could he have survived two very cold mountain winters and with only three legs? So if you have lost one of your fur babies never ever give up hope.

- C.A.R. Pet Owner

Ginger | A Miracle in Disguise

The day Ginger disappeared was one of the hardest days of my life. Ginger and I used to go out on walks all the time. He loved exploring the world, tail high and ears alert, as though every blade of grass and every passing breeze held a secret just for him. That day, we were at a park in Burwood, a usual haunt for us. He was darting around, sniffing at bushes and rolling in patches of sunlight. I turned my head for just a moment, and when I looked back, he was gone. Panic set in almost immediately. I called his name, my voice echoing through the park, but there was no sign of him.

The first day was awful. I spent all night crying, imagining the worst—was he hurt? Hungry? Scared? It felt like a piece of me was missing. My family, bless their hearts, rallied around me. We printed posters and plastered them on poles and shop windows, each one a plea for help. Determined to find him, I turned to Facebook, asking local groups if anyone had seen my beloved cat. As I scoured social media, something unexpected happened. I came across countless posts from people who couldn’t home their cats—kittens abandoned, mothers left behind. My heart ached not just for Ginger but for all these animals in need. I reached out to one lovely woman who introduced me to a mother cat and her three gorgeous kittens. They needed a home, and I needed something to pour my love into.

Nursing them back to health was a healing process for me. Each purr, each playful swat of a tiny paw, slowly began to mend my broken heart. Then, another unexpected blessing came my way. A man who was travelling overseas could no longer care for his cat, Nobi. He reached out to me, and when I saw Nobi for the first time, I gasped. He looked exactly like Ginger—same fur, same build, even the same distinct birthmark, though on the opposite side of his face. It felt like fate. Nobi had his quirks, though. He was deeply traumatised from his previous home, where dogs had frightened him terribly.

It took time, patience, and love to help him acclimate, but eventually, he blossomed into a sweet and cuddly companion. One night, as I was sleeping on the couch with Nobi curled beside me, something extraordinary happened. The lights outside flickered, casting shadows on the walls. My heart raced—I thought it might be an intruder. I got up and cautiously looked out the window, and then I heard it. A familiar sound, one I hadn’t heard in a month but would recognise anywhere. It was a soft, desperate meow. I rushed to the door and threw it open, and there he was. Ginger. I could hardly believe my eyes.

Tears blurred my vision as I scooped him up, his fur dusty and his paws worn but unmistakably my Ginger. It was 2 a.m., but I didn’t care. I woke my entire family. My sister cried as she hugged him, and my parents beamed with relief. That night, Ginger was showered with endless treats and cuddles. He was finally home, and our family felt whole again. The experience changed me in ways I hadn’t expected. Ginger’s disappearance taught me about faith and resilience—not just in him, but in myself. For all the cat owners out there, let this be a reminder: never lose hope. Ginger was missing for a whole month, but his intelligence and determination brought him back to us. And while I wouldn’t wish the heartbreak of losing a pet on anyone, the journey brought new blessings into my life: the kittens, Nobi, and a deeper understanding of how love can heal. Ginger’s return was the happiest ending I could have dreamed of, but it was also a new beginning. Now, our home is fuller than ever, with the patter of little paws, the gentle hum of purrs, and the unshakable bond of a family that never gave up.

For all those out there who may have lost a pet- don’t give up hope. Let’s are extremely intelligent and no matter what- they will always come back to you.

- Mia

Never Give Up On Them!

Frankie is an older cat, she doesn't stray far from home these days. She went missing over a long weekend while we were away. We weren't sure if she might have just felt it was her time, or if perhaps she'd wandered a bit far, and couldn't find her way home. After she'd been gone a week we decided to do a local letter box drop with a missing poster. The new owners of our old house, we had only moved a few streets away, messaged to say they thought they might have seen her. We went over to her old neighbourhood after sunset to call her and she came right out to greet us from an old neighbours yard! 10 days missing but unharmed and happy to be home

- Katrina

Zimi’s Break Free

After 6 days of being lost in the bush through all sorts of weather events, 40+ degree heat and storms Zimi was found less than 2km from our home, unfortunately her back leg was trapped for what we think was the whole time she was missing, but she is such a strong girl and was able to fight to get herself out and find some lovely people who got her to safety at a nearby vet who scanned her microchip and immediately contacted me. We were then able to pick Zimi up within the hour and bring her back home to familiarity.Unfortunately through Zimis struggles to break free she had worn through her ankle and will need her leg to be amputated 🥺She is understandably dehydrated, extremely lean and exhausted, but other than this she is absolutely fine and in good spirits.This is a best case scenario, we have our girl back and she is a fit, healthy, young dog who is going to do just fine with 3 legs.Thankyou everyone who shared our posts and kept an eye out for Zimi, we couldn’t be more appreciative and grateful that she is safe 🤍🤍

- Lana

Whisper's Story

Whisper went missing after getting out one May afternoon, we went to gaws to look for her, put her missing on our local Facebook page but nothing, scaled the local streets ,and nothing.

We gave up hope of ever getting her back. Then yesterday we go a call that she's been found more that 10 km away from home at an international school,we quickly went to get her and she's home safe adjusting really well.

- Linda