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 kilometers 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.”
Raleigh, North Carolina, raced over to meet him at the shelter, 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.”
Toby was officially adopted last Friday, and it hasn’t taken long for him to settle right into the family. In addition to two new cat siblings to play with, Toby has two new human siblings.
“He is just so sweet, cuddly and loving,” Puckett told The Dodo. “He’s also pretty much taken over our bed, as if he’s lived here forever. He loves to relax and lay under our pillows.”
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 said. “I sincerely hope that he motivates others to adopt.”
