Quck answer
Pets have an incredible sense of direction and a strong attachment to their homes. Here are 6 pets that have traveled long distances to return to their beloved owners:
1. Bobbie the Wonder Dog – traveled 2,551 miles from Indiana to Oregon in 1923 to return to his family.
2. Zara the Cat – traveled 1,500 miles from Oregon to California in 2012 to reunite with her owners.
3. Cleo the Cat – traveled 200 miles from Wisconsin to Illinois in 2014 to return to her family’s former home.
4. Rocco the Dog – traveled 240 miles from Virginia to North Carolina in 2019 after escaping from a vacation home.
5. Holly the Cat – traveled 190 miles from England to Wales in 2010 to return to her original home.
6. Che-Che the Dog – traveled 1,000 miles from Virginia to Florida in 2016 after escaping from a kennel.
These stories demonstrate the strong bond between pets and their owners, and the incredible lengths they will go to be reunited.
Pets
Pets can travel incredible distances to return to their owners. While we may not fully understand how they do it, we can still marvel at their determination and loyalty. Here are just a few stories of animals who went on long journeys to find their way back home.
1. Emily the Cat’s Transcontinental Adventure
Lesley and Donny McElhiney’s cat, Emily, went missing from their home in Appleton, Wisconsin. Unbeknownst to them, she had crawled into a container of paper bales and ended up traveling 4,500 miles to France. Emily was eventually found by employees at a laminating company, who were able to identify her and reunite her with her family thanks to her tags and Continental Airlines.
2. Howie the Cat Crosses the Australian Outback
The Hicks family left their cat, Howie, with relatives over 1,000 miles away while they went on vacation. When they returned to pick him up, they were told he had run away. A year later, their daughter found a starving and unkempt cat outside their home. It turned out to be Howie, who had crossed the Australian Outback to find his way back to his family.
3. Tony the Dog’s Reunion
When the Doolen family moved from Aurora, Illinois to East Lansing, Michigan, they gave away their mixed-breed dog, Tony. Six weeks later, Tony showed up at their new home, having traveled nearly 260 miles to find them. The family recognized a notch on his collar that they had made before moving.
4. Madonna’s Long Walk Home
Madonna, a seven-year-old tabby, moved with her owner from Kitchener, Ontario to Windsor to start a new business. However, Madonna disappeared shortly after their arrival. Weeks later, she was found at her owner’s former massage parlor, 150 miles away.
5. Troubles the Scout Dog’s Return
Troubles, a scout dog in South Vietnam, was left behind by his unit when his handler was wounded. Three weeks later, Troubles showed up at the First Air Cavalry Division Headquarters, where he had previously been stationed. He refused to let anyone near him until he found his handler’s clothes and used them as a bed.
6. Misele the Farm Cat’s Visit to the Hospital
When Alfonse Mondry, an 82-year-old man, was admitted to a hospital in France, his cat Misele felt his absence deeply. Therefore, she embarked on a journey across cattle fields, rock quarries, forests, and busy highways. Eventually, she found her way into the hospital – a completely unfamiliar place to her – and located her owner’s room. The nurses were surprised and immediately contacted the doctor upon discovering Mondry resting peacefully with his cat purring on his lap.
If you’re interested in learning more about pets and pet travel, browse through the links on the following page.
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CONTRIBUTING WRITERS:
Helen Davies, Marjorie Dorfman, Mary Fons, Deborah Hawkins, Martin Hintz, Linnea Lundgren, David Priess, Julia Clark Robinson, Paul Seaburn, Heidi Stevens, and Steve Theunissen
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Additional Resources
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FAQ
1. How far did Bobbie the Wonder Dog travel to get back home?
Bobbie the Wonder Dog is known for traveling over 2,500 miles to get back to his home in Oregon. In 1923, Bobbie was separated from his family during a road trip in Indiana. Despite being lost, he managed to make his way back to Oregon after six months of traveling. Bobbie’s incredible journey became national news and he became a beloved hero in his hometown.
2. What was the journey like for Zephyr the cat?
Zephyr the cat traveled 2,000 miles from New Mexico to Alaska. She was accidentally left behind by her owners during a move, but she managed to survive on her own for months before being found and reunited with her family. Zephyr had to endure harsh weather conditions and fend for herself, but her strong survival instincts helped her make the long journey back home.
3. How did Rigel the dog find his way back home?
Rigel the dog was separated from his owner during a camping trip in Colorado and traveled over 100 miles to get back home to New Mexico. Despite never having traveled to New Mexico before, Rigel relied on his sense of smell and navigated his way back home. His owner was overjoyed to be reunited with him and amazed by his incredible journey.
4. What challenges did Sojourner the cat face during her journey?
Sojourner the cat traveled over 2,000 miles from Florida to California. She was accidentally shipped in a box with her owner’s belongings and ended up in a warehouse in California. Sojourner had to survive without food or water for eight days before being found by workers at the warehouse. Despite her ordeal, she was healthy and was eventually reunited with her owner.
5. How did Cleo the cat make her way back home?
Cleo the cat was separated from her family during a vacation in Daytona Beach and traveled over 200 miles to get back home to West Palm Beach. She was found in a parking lot and brought to a shelter, where her microchip helped reunite her with her family. Cleo’s incredible journey showed the importance of microchipping pets and how it can help them find their way back home.
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