Have you ever had one of those moments where you wish you get a do-over? Well, that’s probably exactly how Bernadette’s boyfriend felt when he mistakenly opened the wrong side of the window, the side without the screen, and Bernadette’s baby, Callie the cat, dropped out of the their second story apartment window.

If there was an annual award presented to pet owners with the strongest resolve and dedication, I would certainly cast my vote for Bernadette. When Callie dropped from that second story apartment window, she fell into a world that was vastly different than her cozy apartment – she landed in the outside world of an apartment complex where dozens upon dozens of feral cats resided.

When I was first called to meet Bernadette and observed the environment at the apartment complex, I felt a challenge before us. Over the next month, those challenges were experienced first hand, some of which included the coldest month ever on record here in Pennsylvania, along with, of course, the feral cats. Through the whole ordeal, Bernadette trapped over 30 different feral cats, typically catching many of the cats multiple times. Bernadette had a resolve to envy for she set and checked two humane traps every single night on 2 hour intervals without fail for nearly a month.

On day 34, Bernadette’s efforts were well rewarded, complete with the stunned look of astonishment when she peered into the humane trap, like she had done so many times, only to see a feral cat, there was her Callie. Complete euphoria ensued for Bernadette and family.

They say big things come in small packages and Ellie the cat fits that description. Ellie is small in size, weighing only 6 pounds, but she fills a big part of her owner’s heart.

Ellie’s mom, Lois, became alarmed when she could not find Ellie in the house and Ellie’s food was not eaten. Ellie has a hyper thyroid condition, which makes her ravenous for food, and for Ellie to not eat her food is a danger sign. Originally thinking that Ellie was trapped somewhere inside the house, Lois contacted me for assistance. Following a meticulous search of the house interior and analysis of the previous night’s activities, I concluded that Ellie most likely managed to slip out the back door.

With the aid of specialized cameras, I was able to get photographic evidence proving that Ellie was outside, alive and well. (See infrared photos below).

Left photo: Ellie visiting a feeding station.
Right photo: Ellie investigating a humane trap.

Today, now back on the inside of her home, little Ellie is fulfilling a big role in warming her owner’s heart.

Oscar Wilde the cat, is more than just a pet and companion to his mom, Joy, from West Grove, Pennsylvania, he is a true source of inspiration and emotional support. Last winter, Joy had a truly unfortunate accident, suffered serious injuries, and has been enduring multiple and on going surgeries through her lengthy recovery process. Oscar has been her one constant near and dear friend, nurse, and emotional life line in this most traumatic time in her life.

But through all that hardship, Joy did not realize that one starry night in June, when the patio door was left inadvertently ajar, that Oscar would venture outside for some fresh air of his own. Discovering the open door in the morning and Oscar no where to be found, Joy turned to me for help.

Oscar’s a big boy to say the least; he weighs an astonishing 20 pounds. But, his size alone is no comfort for Joy, for she was deeply concerned about the safety of her wandering kitty. Oscar, de-clawed and now needing to fend for himself in the outside world, had unknowingly embarked on a trek through a territory heavily populated with fox.

Despite the obvious negatives that could befall Oscar, I gave Joy strong reason to have hope for his safe recovery. Oscar’s recovery plan included the use of technical equipment, surveillance cameras, traps, flyers, interviews, and the pursuit of many leads. Ultimately, it was large posters and a kind citizen that enabled Joy to locate Oscar. Behind a solid search strategy and an unshakable positive attitude, Joy recovered Oscar 32 days later with torrent of happy tears.

Truth is stranger than fiction and the circumstances surrounding Phoebe’s loss proves that adage.

Phoebe, a black standard poodle, has had the true misfortune of living the first part of her life in deplorable conditions, imprisoned in a cage for breeding purposes in a puppy mill. When the puppy mill was closed down, Dawn, Phoebe’s new mom, vowed to give Phoebe a better conclusion to her life than Phoebe experienced in the beginning of her life living in the puppy mill environment.

Dawn, a devoted caregiver to Phoebe, has not previously left Phoebe in anyone else’s care, and realizes that Phoebe suffers from a condition called “learned helplessness”, a psychological disorder that causes Phoebe to be very shy, withdrawn, and despondent, especially in new surroundings.

However, on the day in which Dawn was to catch a flight to California to embark on her pleasure cruise, Phoebe panicked, slipped her collar, and escaped from the boarding facility. Dawn was faced with the unthinkable; she had to decide between 2 relationships: The relationship with her beloved dog and the relationship with her boyfriend, a decision fraught with agony at best.

Within minutes of my first conversation with Dawn I sensed that she was consumed with disastrous thoughts about what Phoebe may be suffering while lost in the woods, with images of a sad conclusion to Phoebe’s life, and with self-induced guilt about Phoebe becoming lost.

Through sound analysis, experience, good intuition,  and several of Dawn's dear friends -- bless those friends -- an effective recovery plan was executed.

I still remember the phone call that I had received early one morning, listening to Dawn on the other end, explaining through tears of joy, that Phoebe was in the dog trap we had set, and that she had her beloved pet once again.