Just Unbelievable: 12-Year Missing Cat Returns To Stun Animal Control Officer!

Leona Martinez
Oct 13, 2023
Oct 13, 2023

Recently, a tabby cat named Butters reunited with his owners after disappearing from his San Diego home in 2011.

Butters was discovery by an animal control officer, and then was flown to his new home in Washington, serves as a testament to the enduring bond between pets and their owners.

12-Year Missing Cat Reunited With His Owners

Butters the cat, missing since 2011, is held by Riverside County Animal Services Supervisor Alison Chavez

Source: Google Images

On October 1st, 2023, Dalton Churchwell, an officer with Riverside County Animal Control, spotted the tabby cat wandering in his backyard in Blythe, California, according to the Riverside County Department of Animal Services (RCDAS).

Concerned for the cat's well-being, Churchwell scanned Butters for a microchip. To everyone's amazement, the microchip contained identification information revealing that Butters had been reported missing from his San Diego home in 2011. So he quickly informed the cat’s owner that their pet was now alive and healthy.

Butters reunited with his original owners

Source: Google Images

Angelo Castellino and his wife, Shelley, who had since relocated to Stanwood, Washington, were overjoyed to hear the news that Butters had been found. They eagerly welcomed Butters, reuniting him with his brother, Barnacles.

"The owners were overjoyed when Officer Churchwell called them and told them he had found Butters," RCDAS shared.

The big question on everyone's mind is how Butters managed to survive on his own for twelve years, especially considering the more than 200-mile journey from Blythe to San Diego, where he initially went missing. It's a mystery that's leaving everyone scratching their heads.

Butters is reunited with the Castellino family in Seattle on Oct. 7, 2023

Source: Google Images

Angelo couldn't believe it when Butters came back. “It was just unbelievable,” he said.

“I’m so grateful to Officer Churchwell for having Butters identified. The officer just really went out of his way. You know, he did this on a Sunday night, on his time off.”

The ASK Foundation, a non-profit group working with RCDAS on several projects, heard the story and decided to arrange for Butters to fly to Seattle so he could be reunited with his family.

On October 7, 2023, Larry Rudolph, a 10-year volunteer for RCDAS, personally delivered Butters to the Castellinos in Seattle.

"We were thrilled to work with the Department of Animal Services to make this reunion possible," said Carolyn Badger, the president of the ASK Foundation. "It was such a wonderful story, and we are very happy to know that Butters is home and safe with his family."

Angelo shared with ABC 6, "I thought he was dead. Butters is a pretty adventurous cat, so he would go outside a lot. He learned how to use the doggie door, and one day, he never returned."

"We went looking for him, and our assumption was that the coyotes got him because there's a canyon nearby," he continued.

The Importance Of Microchipping In The Pet's Reunion

Pet mom holding the cat in her arms after 12 years

Source: Google Images

Shelley stressed the importance of microchipping in his reunion with his pet, saying, "Our prodigal kitty has come home. I cannot stress enough how important it is to get your kitty cats and your doggies chipped." It's a small step that can make all the difference in reuniting lost pets with their families.

The reunion of Butters, the cat missing for twelve years, is a truly remarkable and heartwarming story. It serves as a reminder that miracles can happen, and pets can find their way back home, even after many years of separation.

What do you think? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments. Also, share this post to spread positive things with the community.

Just Unbelievable: 12-Year Missing Cat Returns To Stun Animal Control Officer!

12-Year Missing Cat Reunited With His Owners

The Importance Of Microchipping In The Pet's Reunion

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