A cat in Florida who went missing from his home has been reunited with his family after six months, reports ABC affiliate WFTV News. Leroy, whose shelter name is Gumby, disappeared from his Port Saint John home back in August 2023 after his owners had moved.
In November last year, the feline was found roaming around in Mims, close to his original home. Subsequently, he was brought to the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) of Brevard.
Owner recognizes missing cat in social media post
After the shelter took Leroy in, they put up a Facebook post, wherein they said he was available for adoption. “You can help change Gumby’s life by giving him a new place to snooze the day away! This lovable 8-year-old guy has a heart as big as his love for cozy spots,” the post read.
Jason Hays, Leroy’s owner, later saw the post and recognized the feline. He then went to the rescue to be reunited with his beloved pet. “I don’t know how he ended up 20 miles away or what kind of trials he went through to survive that long in the wilds of Mims/Port St John,” he told WFTV News. “But he is home again and resting.”
Hays further expressed his gratitude to the organization for having taken care of Leroy for the last three months. “None of us can believe that he got that far on his own,” he continued. “And that he stayed in the center for as long as he did. But we are glad to have him back.”
SPCA Brevard Executive Director Susan Naylor said the shelter is “thrilled” to have reunited Hays with his pet, describing the experience as “heartwarming.” Continuing, she shared, “We feel privileged to have played a role in his journey.”
Naylor also spoke about the importance of microchipping and how it can help pet parents be reunited with their missing pets more quickly. “We’re happy that Leroy is now microchipped and registered with his family,” she said.
