We all remember the devastating wildfires that swept through California a few months back in 2017.
The tragic events cost many their houses and valuables, and some of them even lost their beloved fur babies. It happened for some to find their pets back after the fires were over, but what happened to Thompson family after the wildfires was almost miraculous!
Pilot, a cat that the Thompsons had adopted back in 2004 when he was only a kitten, went missing three years later in 2007.
“He is a very special cat who loved my kids, loved to play in water, and followed us around like a dog,” said his human mom, Jennifer Thompson.
The cat, which went missing back in 2007, was found 10 years later after the California wildfires passed through Santa Rosa!
When Pilot went missing in Santa Rosa, his family was absolutely devastated.
“He is microchipped and was wearing a collar with a tag…His disappearance was extremely traumatizing to us,” Jennifer said on her GoFundMe page, where she was raising money to pay for the cat’s veterinary bills.
After days of searching through the Santa Rosa area, they came to the conclusion that they would never see their beloved pet again.
But 10 years after the incident, Jennifer received an unexpected phone call.
It came from a veterinary hospital in California. They had found the cat, whose microchip was linked to the family’s contact information.
“Imagine our shock and surprise when he was found on Oct 31st. 10 years after his disappearance. He was severely burned in the Tubbs fire in Santa Rosa, Ca. A Good Samaritan found him and took him to Petcare Veterinary Hospital for treatment. It was there that he was scanned for a microchip and I was located! We live in CO now and I will be flying out to CA next week to be reunited with him. I can’t express how excited I am to see his face,” Jennifer wrote.
Although Jennifer was going to be reunited with Pilot very soon, she was concerned for the wellbeing of her long-lost cat.
Pilot was burned during the fire and has been undergoing intensive treatment for the burns that are on his paws.
“Pilot has severe burns on his paws. So severe, that he is burned to the bone in some places. He is going to need extensive care and treatment. Now you might ask, why do this? Well, I’ll tell you. Pilot has been burned like this for over 2 weeks. He’s been out there on his own and he somehow made it with very little food and water. He was dehydrated and starving. And yet he kept going. He’s in really good spirits and gets excited and wants to be petted and loved on the moment someone opens his cage door at the veterinary hospital. He’s not ready to give up so neither am I,” Jennifer said on her GoFundMe page.
The moment she flew in to California, she went straight to the veterinary clinic and stayed with Pilot during his entire treatment.
“He was asleep when I walked into the hospital ward at Petcare and immediately raised his head and turned around when he heard my voice. I was overjoyed and the tears were flowing. I have no doubt that he remembered me.”
Pilot is quickly healing now and has been brought back to the family home in Colorado. The family is happy to be reunited with their long-lost cat, and we wish Pilot a speedy recovery!
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