Toby the cat’s family handed him away to a new home in February.
He didn’t understand why he was being forced to leave his family, but he really missed them.
As a result, he chose to flee. He arrived at his former family’s doorway after trekking 12 kilometres back to their house. Instead of being greeted warmly, he was confronted with hostility.
“They took him to a shelter and requested them to put him down,” Tara Lynn, the SPCA of Wake County’s communications director, told The Dodo. “It was sad to know he made it all the way back to his family and that was their reaction.”
Toby was denied at the public shelter, so the SPCA was notified, and he was taken in immediately away. The SPCA began providing him all the medical attention he required in order to prepare him for a new home.
“He had an upper respiratory infection and tested positive for feline immunodeficiency virus,” Lynn added. “It took a long for us to have him treated for the illness.”
Toby soon warmed up to the shelter personnel despite the fact that he was no longer with his family.
Lynn described him as “extremely pleasant.” “They’re just like any other cat – they want to be loved and to be loved by you.”
The calls started pouring in after the rescue posted about Toby on social media. Michele Puckett of Raleigh, North Carolina, ran over to meet him, and the rest is history.
Lynn stated of Puckett, “She had no reservations at all.” “She was working on a construction site when she decided to come here.”
After the rescue posted about Toby on social media, the calls began to stream in. Michele Puckett of Raleigh, North Carolina, dashed over to greet him, and the rest, as they say, is history.
“She had no concerns at all,” Lynn said of Puckett. “When she chose to come here, she was working on a construction site.”
Puckett can’t help but think about Toby’s unfortunate ending with her family when he sees how at ease he is with her family.
“It’s difficult to comprehend how someone could have abandoned him to be executed in this manner,” she added. “It’s startling, but we’re thankful he’s alive.”
Lynn shares Toby’s sentiments, and hopes that his tale may inspire other animals to find second chances via rescues, as he did.
“There are a lot of pets that are readily dumped by their owners or breeders,” Lynn explained. “I sincerely hope that he motivates others to adopt.”
