When Aria Pendak JeffersonB次元官网网址檚 cat ran away while the family was in Ucluelet two years ago, she was despondent. The three-year-old regarded ChiChi, a black and white tuxedo cat, as her best friend.

Now almost six and with several other cats in the house, Aria never lost hope that she would see ChiChi again.

On Wednesday, her wish came true.

B次元官网网址淪he just ran out the door and never came back,B次元官网网址� AriaB次元官网网址檚 mother, Ashley Jefferson said about the day the cat went missing. She was staying at a friendB次元官网网址檚 house in Ucluelet at the time while in the process of moving.

B次元官网网址淪he was heartbroken. She didnB次元官网网址檛 give up though,B次元官网网址� Jesse Pendak said of his and AshleyB次元官网网址檚 daughter, who was a few months older than the cat. ChiChi had been born on PendakB次元官网网址檚 bed, so Aria was with her since she was born.

B次元官网网址淭hey grew up together,B次元官网网址� Jefferson said. The adults assumed the worst about the family cat.

Courtney Johnson and her partner, Barry Edge, own Image West in Ucluelet. Just before Easter a friend told Courtney that there was a friendly stray cat in the parking lot of the Canadian Princess across the street. Johnson feeds a small group of feral cats in the neighbourhood so she went over to see how she could help the stray.

She brought the cat home, called her Scrappy and spent four hours patiently cutting mats out of her fur. B次元官网网址淪he ate her weight in kitty food. I was amazed at how calm she was,B次元官网网址� Johnson said.

It was a stroke of luck and social media that brought the two families together.

B次元官网网址淚 (occasionally) checked the Ucluelet Facebook page to see if she was randomly posted,B次元官网网址� Jefferson said. B次元官网网址淚 hadnB次元官网网址檛 checked in about six months. I randomly checked one day and Courtney, the lady who (has) her, had posted a photoB次元官网网址攁nd I knew it was her.B次元官网网址�

ChiChi has unique colourings on her face, including a black nose. Even though she is smaller than when she went missing there was no mistaking the photo on Facebook was the PendaksB次元官网网址� cat.

B次元官网网址淚 didnB次元官网网址檛 believe it at first,B次元官网网址� Pendak said.

B次元官网网址淚 was shocked,B次元官网网址� Jefferson said. B次元官网网址淭his little one (Aria) never stopped thinking she would get her cat back and she was right.B次元官网网址�

ChiChi was found within a 10-minute drive from where she disappeared. B次元官网网址淚 wish she had a GoPro on her to see what sheB次元官网网址檚 been doing all this time,B次元官网网址� Johnson said.

When Johnson said ChiChiB次元官网网址檚 name for the first time the cat sat up and looked at her. B次元官网网址淪he would sleep in my bathtub,B次元官网网址� Johnson said.

B次元官网网址淪he would sleep in my bathtub too,B次元官网网址� Jefferson said.

On Wednesday, April 21, the two families met halfway, in a parking lot in Port Alberni, to exchange the cat. Aria wore a special pink dress for the occasion and waited shyly as Johnson and Edge drove up in their orange Tacoma truck. When it was time for Aria to be reunited with her best furry friend, ChiChi sat on the shadowed pavement in a harness and leash and accepted pets.

When Aria picked her up, ChiChi began purring. Aria grinned. B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 so happy,B次元官网网址� she said.

Johnson was at peace seeing the reunion. B次元官网网址淧eople have had a lot of loss. I know I have had loss. I think this is amazing to be able to reunite somebodyB次元官网网址檚 friend with her family.

B次元官网网址淗ope deserves to be kept alive.B次元官网网址�

susie.quinn@albernivalleynews.com
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