Edinburgh Haymarket ferret 'took London train'

Staff have named the ferret Mickey

22 March 2011

A ferret has been rescued from an Edinburgh station after apparently getting off a train from London.

The male ferret, named Mickey by animal welfare officers, was found at Haymarket train station on Monday.

He appeared on platform four at about 1900 GMT when the train from London was in the station.

Staff managed to catch the ferret, which is now being cared for by the Scottish SPCA. The animal charity is urging his owner to come forward.

Insp Jenny Scott, of the Scottish SPCA, said: "When I arrived to collect the ferret, the staff had managed to catch him and put him in a box.

"We're not sure if he has escaped from someone's house nearby or if he has ventured further and travelled all the way from England on the train.

"He's very friendly so he is obviously someone's pet.

"We'd love to return him to his owner as I'm sure they'll be missing him a lot."

The ferret is now being cared for at the charity's animal rescue and rehoming centre in Balerno.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-edinburgh-east-fife-12820220

Cat Survived Earthquake and Reunited with Family

Mar 16, 2011

A woman returned to her house that was devastated by the earthquake and tsunami to look for her cat.

She was shocked by the damage in the house as she was rummaging through the rubble. While she was talking to the reporter, a miracle happened. Her cat came out from the stairs and started meowing.

Non-non the cat was hiding upstairs when the tsunami hit. The little one survived.

Though the kitty was still a little shaking and overwhelmed by the whole disaster and afraid to come back downstairs, it was absolutely heart-warming and hopeful to know that Non-non made it safe.

Rough Translation:

Voiceover: After the earthquake, the citizens return to their changed town.

Woman: I had a cat, and when the tsunami came, I looked for it. But I couldn’t find it, so I had to escape.

Voiceover: When they go into the house…

Man: So what was this room?

Woman: This was the dining room.

Man: That’s a tree from outside?

Woman: Yeah, that’s amazing…

Woman: Ah! The cat’s alive! I can hear it!

Man: That’s great! It looks like it escaped to the second floor when the tsunami came

http://lovemeow.com/2011/03/cat-survived-and-reunited-with-family/

Local council threatens pet owner with £1,000 fine for missing cat posters

Mike Harding was so desperate to find his lost cat he nailed posters of the missing pet to trees in his neighbourhood.


He sat back and anxiously waited for the phone to ring but he was shocked when he received a call from the council threatening him with a £1,000 fine.

The 44-year-old was issued with a 48-hour ‘remove or pay up’ ultimatum by Bedfordshire Borough Council, which accused him of ‘fly-posting’.

Mr Harding was forced to drive around in the early hours, ripping down his 20 lost-cat posters to avoid the penalty.

He put them up in November in a last-ditch attempt to locate seven-year-old Wookie, who had then been missing for six weeks.

‘It was a shock,’ said Mr Harding. ‘I’m a law abiding citizen and I’ve not even got so much as a speeding ticket, and I’m being threatened to be fined £1,000 for looking for my cat.

‘You would think the council would have some compassion.’

After returning from work on December 23, Mr Harding drove all over Bedford taking the posters down before the council’s deadline, and eventually got home at 3am.

The local authority has defended its actions, claiming the posters could cause environmental damage.

‘As well as damaging trees, fly-posting is also illegal and may lead to fines of up to £1,000,’ a spokesman for the council said.

Read more: http://www.metro.co.uk/weird/851657-pet-owner-threatened-with-1-000-fine-for-missing-cat-posters#ixzz1A46ZI8cn

Local council threatens pet owner with £1,000 fine for missing cat posters

Mike Harding was so desperate to find his lost cat he nailed posters of the missing pet to trees in his neighbourhood.


He sat back and anxiously waited for the phone to ring but he was shocked when he received a call from the council threatening him with a £1,000 fine.

The 44-year-old was issued with a 48-hour ‘remove or pay up’ ultimatum by Bedfordshire Borough Council, which accused him of ‘fly-posting’.

Mr Harding was forced to drive around in the early hours, ripping down his 20 lost-cat posters to avoid the penalty.

He put them up in November in a last-ditch attempt to locate seven-year-old Wookie, who had then been missing for six weeks.

‘It was a shock,’ said Mr Harding. ‘I’m a law abiding citizen and I’ve not even got so much as a speeding ticket, and I’m being threatened to be fined £1,000 for looking for my cat.

‘You would think the council would have some compassion.’

After returning from work on December 23, Mr Harding drove all over Bedford taking the posters down before the council’s deadline, and eventually got home at 3am.

The local authority has defended its actions, claiming the posters could cause environmental damage.

‘As well as damaging trees, fly-posting is also illegal and may lead to fines of up to £1,000,’ a spokesman for the council said.

Read more: http://www.metro.co.uk/weird/851657-pet-owner-threatened-with-1-000-fine-for-missing-cat-posters#ixzz1A46ZI8cn

Christmas Cat

A missing cat has been reunited with its owners in time for Christmas - four years after disappearing.

Colin the black cat disappeared shortly after Peter and Maria O'Neill moved from Middlesbrough to Garstang, Lancashire, in August 2006.

Despite attempts to locate the missing moggy the couple eventually gave up hope and moved back to Middlesbrough.

Colin was found in a garden in Garstang and taken to charity Cats Protection, which arranged a microchip scan.

The O'Neills, who originally found Colin as a feral kitten roaming around the Corus steelworks, had updated the charity with their new address in Ingleby Barwick, Middlesbrough.

He was found by a woman in Garstang earlier this month.

Mrs O'Neill said: "I couldn't believe it when I got a call to say Colin had been found. It was really the best Christmas present I could have hoped for.

"When I went to pick Colin up, he was quite nervous and cowering in the corner of a pen. I simply said his name and he instantly recognised me.

"He bounded up to me and stuck his head under my arm. It was just a magical moment and it left me close to tears."

'Made' Christmas
Jeanette Greaves, publicity volunteer at the charity's Preston branch, said: "Everyone at the branch is so thrilled that we were able to reunite Colin with his owners after all this time.

"It has really made our Christmas.

"This case certainly highlights the importance of microchipping and keeping details up to date, as it greatly increases the chances of a happy reunion should a cat ever go missing from his home."

Cats Protection helps about 215,000 unwanted cats through a national network of 256 volunteer-run branches and 30 adoption centres.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lancashire-12076415

Christmas Cat

A missing cat has been reunited with its owners in time for Christmas - four years after disappearing.

Colin the black cat disappeared shortly after Peter and Maria O'Neill moved from Middlesbrough to Garstang, Lancashire, in August 2006.

Despite attempts to locate the missing moggy the couple eventually gave up hope and moved back to Middlesbrough.

Colin was found in a garden in Garstang and taken to charity Cats Protection, which arranged a microchip scan.

The O'Neills, who originally found Colin as a feral kitten roaming around the Corus steelworks, had updated the charity with their new address in Ingleby Barwick, Middlesbrough.

He was found by a woman in Garstang earlier this month.

Mrs O'Neill said: "I couldn't believe it when I got a call to say Colin had been found. It was really the best Christmas present I could have hoped for.

"When I went to pick Colin up, he was quite nervous and cowering in the corner of a pen. I simply said his name and he instantly recognised me.

"He bounded up to me and stuck his head under my arm. It was just a magical moment and it left me close to tears."

'Made' Christmas
Jeanette Greaves, publicity volunteer at the charity's Preston branch, said: "Everyone at the branch is so thrilled that we were able to reunite Colin with his owners after all this time.

"It has really made our Christmas.

"This case certainly highlights the importance of microchipping and keeping details up to date, as it greatly increases the chances of a happy reunion should a cat ever go missing from his home."

Cats Protection helps about 215,000 unwanted cats through a national network of 256 volunteer-run branches and 30 adoption centres.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lancashire-12076415

Swearing parrot f***s off (that’s flies off)

Fred Attewill

When Melissa Todd bought Charlie the parrot she was warned he was fond of the F-word - so much so that he became a YouTube hit and was about to make his TV debut.

However, she was also assured by the pet shop that one talent the African grey did not have was the ability to fly – but the cheeky bird has put that claim to flight and disappeared.

Now Ms Todd is involved in a desperate hunt for Charlie, who vanished on Monday from her home in Bury, Greater Manchester, after hearing a loud noise. She has offered a reward for his safe return.

‘Charlie is like one of the family. He is really intelligent,’ said the 29-year-old pub worker.

‘He originally came from a pet shop in Manchester which went out of business but we don’t know anything about his previous owner.’ Next week, Charlie is appearing in a TV documentary called My Pet Shame about embarrassing animals. It sees experts try to break his swearing habit on the show.

But if he is not found soon he will miss his follow-up appearance on the show, presented by Gavin & Stacey actress Joanna Page, to test whether his behaviour has been changed.

‘He does swear but he also picks up things from the television and talks about himself,’ said Ms Todd, whose daughter Leonie has been left distraught by the vanishing act.

‘He says “Charlie’s pretty” and things like that. He’s been to London and the experts have come up here. The advice they gave worked for a while but he’s reverted to swearing again,’ she added.

http://www.metro.co.uk/weird/833708-swearing-parrot-f-s-off-that-s-flies-off

Lost tortoise returns

30 June 2010 16:30 GMT

A missing tortoise has been found after almost two years - just a mile-and-a-half away from its English home.

Maddie Tibble's pet Lottie - who disappeared just two days after she had been given to the youngster as a ninth birthday present - has been found on a road on the far side of adjoining school playing fields, 22 months later.

The tortoise - described as in "fine health" - was returned to Maddie by a local vet as she had been fitted with a microchip.

Maddie said: "I just didn't believe it was her. I was really shocked I just thought it must be another tortoise, but I am so pleased to have her back."

http://entertainment.stv.tv/showbiz/185005-lost-tortoise-returns/

100 volunteers using night vision search for missing dog

By JO STEELE - Tuesday, November 24, 2009

A search involving 100 volunteers, using night vision goggles and thermal imaging equipment, would be a Herculean undertaking if the hunt was for a missing person.
How much more impressive is it if the search is for a dog?

The dog in question is a cocker spaniel called Lady and she ran away earlier this month.

Former policeman Graham Turvey, 57, and his wife Cynthia, 56, have travelled 250 miles to set up an incident room on behalf of Lady's owners.

The couple, from Morpeth, Northumberland, gathered teams of up to 30 people at a time to scour every inch of land in and around Milton Keynes.

Some have come from as far as Carlisle. Lady was rescued from a puppy farm earlier this year by the Northern English Springer Spaniel Rescue centre, which the Turveys run. The chocolate and tan bitch was re-homed in Milton Keynes on November 9 but ran away within a day.

When her new owners reported Lady missing, Graham and Cynthia sprang into action.

Graham, a sergeant with Northumbria Police for 33 years, said: 'It gives you the skills to search a particular place more thoroughly and think about the search methodically.' Their incident room has sleeping bags, maps and a computer.

'The support we have received is incredible,' said Cynthia. 'We'll search until we find Lady. When we took her in we made a commitment to her and we'll stand by that. You don't give up on a dog.'

http://www.metro.co.uk/weird/article.html?100_volunteers_using_night_vision_search_for_missing_dog&in_article_id=776563&in_page_id=2

100 volunteers using night vision search for missing dog

By JO STEELE - Tuesday, November 24, 2009

A search involving 100 volunteers, using night vision goggles and thermal imaging equipment, would be a Herculean undertaking if the hunt was for a missing person.
How much more impressive is it if the search is for a dog?

The dog in question is a cocker spaniel called Lady and she ran away earlier this month.

Former policeman Graham Turvey, 57, and his wife Cynthia, 56, have travelled 250 miles to set up an incident room on behalf of Lady's owners.

The couple, from Morpeth, Northumberland, gathered teams of up to 30 people at a time to scour every inch of land in and around Milton Keynes.

Some have come from as far as Carlisle. Lady was rescued from a puppy farm earlier this year by the Northern English Springer Spaniel Rescue centre, which the Turveys run. The chocolate and tan bitch was re-homed in Milton Keynes on November 9 but ran away within a day.

When her new owners reported Lady missing, Graham and Cynthia sprang into action.

Graham, a sergeant with Northumbria Police for 33 years, said: 'It gives you the skills to search a particular place more thoroughly and think about the search methodically.' Their incident room has sleeping bags, maps and a computer.

'The support we have received is incredible,' said Cynthia. 'We'll search until we find Lady. When we took her in we made a commitment to her and we'll stand by that. You don't give up on a dog.'

http://www.metro.co.uk/weird/article.html?100_volunteers_using_night_vision_search_for_missing_dog&in_article_id=776563&in_page_id=2

Lost cat found in aircon unit

Sat Oct 31, 2009

The RSPCA has found a cat trapped in an air conditioner at Coorparoo on Brisbane's southside.

The female cat had been inside the air-conditioning unit for at least five days before RSPCA officers freed it yesterday.

The animal welfare group says the owner of the property had heard strange noises coming from her 1970s air conditioner but thought it was rats.

Louise Campbell says the officers were not expecting to find an adult cat.

"They actually were worried it was kittens in there, and there was no way they expected to find a cat," she said.

"They said a cat wouldn't fit in there and all of a sudden when they did find it it was, 'oh my goodness, it's a full grown cat'."

The tabby is now receiving veterinary treatment and RSPCA spokeswoman Katrina Farmer says they are looking for its owners.

"We're hoping that someone will ring up in regards to a lost cat in the Coorparoo area," she said.

"She is desexed, so she is owned by somebody ... so all phone calls in regards to that would be very welcome."

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/10/31/2729443.htm

Lost cat found in aircon unit

Sat Oct 31, 2009

The RSPCA has found a cat trapped in an air conditioner at Coorparoo on Brisbane's southside.

The female cat had been inside the air-conditioning unit for at least five days before RSPCA officers freed it yesterday.

The animal welfare group says the owner of the property had heard strange noises coming from her 1970s air conditioner but thought it was rats.

Louise Campbell says the officers were not expecting to find an adult cat.

"They actually were worried it was kittens in there, and there was no way they expected to find a cat," she said.

"They said a cat wouldn't fit in there and all of a sudden when they did find it it was, 'oh my goodness, it's a full grown cat'."

The tabby is now receiving veterinary treatment and RSPCA spokeswoman Katrina Farmer says they are looking for its owners.

"We're hoping that someone will ring up in regards to a lost cat in the Coorparoo area," she said.

"She is desexed, so she is owned by somebody ... so all phone calls in regards to that would be very welcome."

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/10/31/2729443.htm

Cat-alytic converter

A ginger kitten used up one of his nine lives when he survived a 70mph trip - stuck inside the chassis of a car.

The driver stopped his car when he heard loud miaowing coming from the rear of his motor as he drove to work in Sankt Poelten, Austria.

Mechanics spent three hours dismantling the car until they found Gussie - who belongs to a neighbour - huddling inside the chassis.

"He was hungry and a bit dirty and frightened but he seemed very relieved to be free.

"He wouldn't stop purring," said mechanic Leopold Wohlmertsberger.

http://www.ananova.com/news/story/sm_3494494.html?menu=

Cat-alytic converter

A ginger kitten used up one of his nine lives when he survived a 70mph trip - stuck inside the chassis of a car.

The driver stopped his car when he heard loud miaowing coming from the rear of his motor as he drove to work in Sankt Poelten, Austria.

Mechanics spent three hours dismantling the car until they found Gussie - who belongs to a neighbour - huddling inside the chassis.

"He was hungry and a bit dirty and frightened but he seemed very relieved to be free.

"He wouldn't stop purring," said mechanic Leopold Wohlmertsberger.

http://www.ananova.com/news/story/sm_3494494.html?menu=

Lost cat turns up 500 miles away

Tuesday, 15 September 2009

A missing cat has been found almost 500 miles away from his Scottish home, more than a year after he went missing.

Sampson was handed in to a vet centre in Plymouth, Devon, on Sunday - 478 miles away from Penicuik in Midlothian.

The cat, who had been thought to be a stray in Plymouth, was identified by a micro-chip, and will now be reunited with owner Linda Jansen.

Ms Jansen said: "Forget the Proclaimers, my cat really did walk 500 miles."

She said: "I have no idea how he travelled so far. He may have been trying to get home but was walking in the wrong direction."

Ms Jansen and her two daughters Kirsten, 12, and Lauren, 16, first rescued Sampson from a cat sanctuary in the Borders.

She said: "A lot of people knew him. He was such a character and really was the man of the house, it was so strange when he went missing and we couldn't find him."

She had given up hope of seeing her the cat again and even crossed his name off at his vet.

Then on Sunday she received a call from the Woodlands Veterinary Surgery in the Devon town.

'Shock and elation'

She said: "I couldn't sleep at all after I got the call. I had given up on seeing him again. The odd thing is that he is a very bad traveller, he always gets car sick when he travels so I can't imagine him lasting on a long road trip like that."

Because of the distances involved Ms Jansen was unsure how to bring Sampson home and approached Edinburgh-based Eagle Couriers to find out about shipping charges.

After hearing the full story the firm then offered to transport the cat for free.

Director Fiona Deas said: "His is one of the most amazing pet stories I have ever heard. I don't suppose we'll ever find out how the animal ended up on the south coast of England, but we can make sure it gets home safely.

"As an animal lover myself I can't even begin to imagine the kind of shock and elation the owner must be feeling at the moment."

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/edinburgh_and_east/8256756.stm

Lost cat turns up 500 miles away

Tuesday, 15 September 2009

A missing cat has been found almost 500 miles away from his Scottish home, more than a year after he went missing.

Sampson was handed in to a vet centre in Plymouth, Devon, on Sunday - 478 miles away from Penicuik in Midlothian.

The cat, who had been thought to be a stray in Plymouth, was identified by a micro-chip, and will now be reunited with owner Linda Jansen.

Ms Jansen said: "Forget the Proclaimers, my cat really did walk 500 miles."

She said: "I have no idea how he travelled so far. He may have been trying to get home but was walking in the wrong direction."

Ms Jansen and her two daughters Kirsten, 12, and Lauren, 16, first rescued Sampson from a cat sanctuary in the Borders.

She said: "A lot of people knew him. He was such a character and really was the man of the house, it was so strange when he went missing and we couldn't find him."

She had given up hope of seeing her the cat again and even crossed his name off at his vet.

Then on Sunday she received a call from the Woodlands Veterinary Surgery in the Devon town.

'Shock and elation'

She said: "I couldn't sleep at all after I got the call. I had given up on seeing him again. The odd thing is that he is a very bad traveller, he always gets car sick when he travels so I can't imagine him lasting on a long road trip like that."

Because of the distances involved Ms Jansen was unsure how to bring Sampson home and approached Edinburgh-based Eagle Couriers to find out about shipping charges.

After hearing the full story the firm then offered to transport the cat for free.

Director Fiona Deas said: "His is one of the most amazing pet stories I have ever heard. I don't suppose we'll ever find out how the animal ended up on the south coast of England, but we can make sure it gets home safely.

"As an animal lover myself I can't even begin to imagine the kind of shock and elation the owner must be feeling at the moment."

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/edinburgh_and_east/8256756.stm

Cat reunited with family, 3,800km later

Wed Sep 16, 2009 12:02pm AEST

A pet cat which went missing in Tasmania and turned up in outback Queensland has been reunited with its owners in the Derwent Valley.

The long-haired Himalayan named Clyde disappeared from home when he was just 12-months-old.

He was eventually found in Cloncurry in north-west Queensland, 3,800 kilometres away.

Earlier this year, Clyde walked into the local hospital and followed a nurse home.

The woman contacted Clyde's owners after a vet found the cat was microchipped.

Owners Katrina Phillips and her daughter Ashley Sullivan are convinced Clyde was stolen and say they are still in shock that he has been found.

Ms Phillips says the family will be keeping a a close eye on the wanderer.

"We'll get that cattery up as quickly as what we can so he's safe at home," she said.

"I really expected him to be quite frantic when we got him out, I really expected to have a cat that didn't want to be held up and needing its space.

"And for him to be so relaxed and calm, I'm positive he remembers."

They plan to keep Clyde indoors for a few days before reintroducing him to their other animals - four cats, a dog, a cockatoo and 40 horses.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/09/16/2687558.htm

Cat reunited with family, 3,800km later

Wed Sep 16, 2009 12:02pm AEST

A pet cat which went missing in Tasmania and turned up in outback Queensland has been reunited with its owners in the Derwent Valley.

The long-haired Himalayan named Clyde disappeared from home when he was just 12-months-old.

He was eventually found in Cloncurry in north-west Queensland, 3,800 kilometres away.

Earlier this year, Clyde walked into the local hospital and followed a nurse home.

The woman contacted Clyde's owners after a vet found the cat was microchipped.

Owners Katrina Phillips and her daughter Ashley Sullivan are convinced Clyde was stolen and say they are still in shock that he has been found.

Ms Phillips says the family will be keeping a a close eye on the wanderer.

"We'll get that cattery up as quickly as what we can so he's safe at home," she said.

"I really expected him to be quite frantic when we got him out, I really expected to have a cat that didn't want to be held up and needing its space.

"And for him to be so relaxed and calm, I'm positive he remembers."

They plan to keep Clyde indoors for a few days before reintroducing him to their other animals - four cats, a dog, a cockatoo and 40 horses.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/09/16/2687558.htm