This is the happy tale of two childhood friends, a teen and her cat, who were reunited through fate three years after the cat went missing from his home in Roseburg, Oregon.
It began when 15-year-old Hannah Rountree began her job as a volunteer at Saving Grace Pet Adoption center. On her second day of volunteering Hannah spotted a cat at the shelter who looked very much like her missing cat.
Spunky had ran away from home three years ago while the family was on a trip, leaving Hannah devastated. Hannah said during an interview with 16KMTR News
I was like, is that my cat? It literally looks so much like Spunky. He was my first cat and the first thing I bonded with as a child, so it was really hard; I cried a lot.
The family spent months searching for Spunky. Hannah finally lost hope and accepted the probability that Spunky had either died or been taken out of the area. She has no idea where he’s been or if he had someone caring for him during his time without her.
Wendy Kang, Saving Grace director, says Spunky was turned over the the shelter as a stray after being found off the side of the highway in Winchester. The shelter changed his name to Bear and he was adopted out to a couple who wanted Spunky as a ‘mouser’ then returned him a few weeks later when he failed to perform.
Hanna says Spunky is adjusting well back at home and believes fate brought them back together. She also had him microchipped, as that’s the best chance a cat has should it become lost.
There are just too many ‘signs’ for this to be a chance reunion. For Spunky to have been brought in as a stray, then adopted out, then returned only for Hannah to recognize him on her second day as a volunteer shows this is truly a Christmas miracle.
