A Sunshine Coast family has experienced a Christmas miracle, reunited with a beloved ‘family member’ after he had been missing for four years.
Yandina local Courtney Dalli got quite a shock when she received a call from the Lort Smith Animal Hospital in Melbourne.
The phone call led the family to be reunited with three-year-old Jinx, their much-loved cat that had wandered from the family home at Beveridge, Victoria, four years ago.
“My daughter burst into tears – we were just in shock,’’ Ms Dalli said.
The fleeing feline disappeared from the family home in Victoria just prior to their big interstate move.
Ms Dalli said Jinx loved sitting on the windowsill and exploring the front yard but always came back inside for dinner. But one night he didn’t.
“I went door-to-door, checked every street, called every vet, asked in every Facebook community group,” Ms Dalli said.
“People would call with possible sightings, but it was never him. My eight-year-old daughter was devastated. They did everything together, slept in the same bed, she would push him around in a pram, he was in every photo of her.”
Then last week, the phone call she always hoped would happen, came.
Jinx had been handed in to Lort Smith Animal Hospital, Melbourne with his microchip still registered to his former Victoria-dwelling family. Ms Dalli immediately began arranging to transport Jinx from Melbourne to Queensland.
Ms Dalli and her son had an anxious wait at Brisbane Airport.
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“My son spotted the crate and said, ‘That’s him, that’s him!’” she said.
“When I called Jinx’s name, he turned around and meowed at me. He knew me instantly.”
Jinx is now back with his family on the Sunshine Coast cuddling the kids, exploring his new home and even getting used to Puma, the family’s other cat.
“It feels calming, he’s so loveable, makes everything feel at ease,” Ms Dalli said.
“Like a piece of the puzzle has been found. He slipped back in like he was always meant to be here.”
Preparations are now underway for a very Merry Christmas for Jinx and his family.
Lort Smith Adoption Centre manager Amanda Doolan said now was a perfect time to make sure pets’ microchip details are up to date.
“Holiday travel and increased activity can lead to pets getting lost, and updated information is the fastest way to reunite with them if they go missing,” Ms Doolan said.
“Pets are part of our families and it just wouldn’t be Christmas without them.”
