A heartwarming reunion took place in California as a cat turned up in the backyard of an animal control officer, leading to the cat's return to its family 12 years after going missing.
Riverside County Animal Services shared in a news release that Animal Control officer Dalton Churchwell discovered a cat wandering in his Blythe backyard. He promptly scanned the feline for a microchip.
The microchip's data unveiled that the cat, named Butters, had been reported missing from his family's San Diego residence in 2011.
Churchwell reached out to Butters' family, who had relocated to Stanwood, Washington since the cat's disappearance.
Owner Angelo Castellino expressed his gratitude, saying, "It was just unbelievable. I'm so grateful to Officer Churchwell for identifying Butters. The officer went above and beyond. He did this on a Sunday night, during his time off."
The ASK Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting the animal services department, offered to cover the expenses to fly Butters to Seattle for the long-awaited reunion.
Volunteer Larry Rudolph accompanied the cat on the journey and handed Butters over to Castellino and his wife, Shelley.
The Castellinos shared that Butters is now happily settling in at home with his brother, Barnacles.
Butters' whereabouts during the missing 12 years remain a mystery, and the Castellinos are perplexed about how their cat managed to journey over 200 miles from San Diego to Blythe.
