Advertisement Lost cat returned home after 3 years thanks to Gardner animal control officer Share Shares Copy Link Copy

Taylor Jezik never gave up hope.Even though her cat, Meow, has been missing for almost three years, Jezik knew deep down, she would eventually find her way home.Meow finally did Tuesday, thanks to some help from the Gardner Police Department.“Someone called Gardner Police Department's Animal Control Officer Alexis Rivera a few days ago and said they found a cat outside right after the rain storms,” officials with the department said in a Facebook post. “ACO Rivera picked up the cat and took it to the Gardner Animal Hospital where we shelter found dogs and cats. ACO Rivera noticed how happy and healthy the cat appeared and decided to scan it for a microchip.”Sure enough, the cat had previously had a microchip implanted. Rivera got the name of the microchip company, called it and learned the name of the owner who had purchased the microchip originally. While Rivera attempted to reach the owner, the microchip company sent a text message to the owner telling them the Gardner Police Department had located their cat.The recipient of that text message was Jezik.“Our family appreciates what you have done for us so very much,” Jezik said in response to the department’s Facebook post. “She has adjusted back home already, it's like she was never actually gone. Thank you. Thank you! Forever grateful!”Jezik said she and her family searched everywhere to find Meow.“We drove and searched over and over for her, put her litter box out, looked on the sides of the roads for dead cats,” Jezik said. “I knew deep down, there was no way she could die. She was too tough to be killed. I stayed hopeful. “We love Meow with all of our hearts. This phone call and texts are unbelievable. This is crazy, we have her back home now, she is adjusting and snuggling. It's such an amazing feeling.”Officials with the Gardner Police Department said the case is a good reminder to microchip your pets.“Getting a microchip implant for your pet is an inexpensive option to consider and is one of the best ways to reunite pets with owners when they are separated,” officials with the department said. “If you have questions, come out to the adoption event at Gardner Animal Hospital this Saturday morning, meet their employees and Gardner PD's ACO Rivera, and learn all about it.”