FARMINGTON — A cat, lost for several months, was reunited with his owner Wednesday at the Franklin County Animal Shelter.

It was a small miracle, Dory Diaz, website and volunteer coordinator, said.

After dealing with kittens anonymously abandoned at their doorstep last week, Diaz posted the reunion story to share the good news and give people who have lost pets hope, she said.

The staff found a teary message on their answering machine Tuesday from a young woman who had seen a posting of one of the Pets of the Week featured in the Sun Journal.

Diaz said she knew it was her cat.

In April, Miranda Baxter, who lives in the Phillips area, attempted to take her cat, Rango, to the veterinarian for neutering when he jumped from the car.

She hunted for months and had given up hope of ever seeing him again, Diaz said. That was, until she saw his photo in the newspaper.

“It is the best Christmas present ever,” Baxter said Thursday. “I lost it when I saw him — I thought he would never come back.”

The animal shelter named him Lanister when he was brought there by an animal control officer from the Phillips area in May, Diaz said.

He had a puncture wound, likely a bite from another animal, when he arrived. Unsure of his rabies vaccinations, the cat had to be quarantined for six months, she said.

On top of that, Lanister also tested positive for a virus that weakens the immune system, she said, and just finished a six-month quarantine. The shelter posted his photo announcing his availability for adoption.

“‘It is a miracle,'” Diaz said Baxter told the shelter staff. “‘I opened the paper and it is my cat.'” 

Baxter said she found him as a stray kitten and raised him.

“He’s been everywhere with me,” she said.

Baxter has messaged the shelter to let the staff know Rango settled in well and is home for the holidays.

abryant@sunjournal.com 

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