BARRIE, ONT.—A local family is “overjoyed” to have their beloved cat back after it was trapped by a neighbour and released several kilometres from home last month.

“I am so happy that he is in our home again. There was always this small doubt that we may never see him again, but my heart felt otherwise,” Devon Miller said.

Tuscan was found walking along the side of the road near County Rd. 90 and George Johnston Rd. at about 8 p.m. Sunday.

A couple took him to Street Cats Rescue in Barrie, where the director immediately recognized him thanks to all the publicity surrounding Tuscan’s disappearance July 24.

“I just jumped in my car and flew down there to get him,” she said.

The 4-year-old cat has lost a lot of weight but managed to survive on his own for 32 days.

Miller believes he was able to fend for himself and capture food because he still has his front claws.

“It’s incredible, we are all just so overjoyed,” she said. “This could have never happened without so much attention on social media and all the people praying for his return.”

Her daughters — Bronte, 7, and Alora, 2, — were over the top when they saw Tuscan.

“We woke my eldest up and she was so happy to see him, she was snuggling him. And my youngest saw him this morning and she was telling his brothers ‘Tuscan’s home now.’ ”

Miller said Tuscan’s capture, caging and release by a neighbour, who was ticketed under a Barrie bylaw, serves as a warning to all pet owners.

“You need to keep your babies near you because there are people out there who will harm them,” Miller said. “It’s disgusting. It happens more often than people believe.”

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Miller said she is very thankful forhow the community came together and continued to search and keep an eye out for Tuscan.

“I can’t thank them enough,” Miller said. “The community saved his life. He was in everyone’s thoughts. I can’t believe it, I just can’t believe it.”

Her Facebook post reached thousands and received comments from as far off as the United Kingdom.