Salem Cat Ollie Reunited with Family After Two Years on the Run

Salem: It’s been a long two years for Ollie, the black cat. He went missing in January 2023 and was recently found wandering the chilly streets of Salem. After a quick check-up, he was reunited with his family, who chose to stay anonymous.

Animal Control Officer Bjarna O’Brien has been busy lately. She’s helped reunite several pets with their owners, including another cat that was adopted. The Salem Police even shared Ollie’s reunion on Facebook, which is pretty heartwarming.

O’Brien loves her job, especially when it comes to reuniting pets with their families. She shared that in 2023, she helped another cat return home after being lost for six years. The timing was perfect, as it was just in time for the owner’s birthday!

These stories highlight how important it is to microchip pets and keep that information updated. Just recently, another black cat named Kumiko was found over 700 miles away in Michigan. Thanks to her microchip, she was reunited with her family in New Hampshire after they thought they’d lost her for good.

The Humane Society of Huron Valley emphasized the importance of microchipping. They mentioned that many pets end up lost, but microchipping makes it easier to bring them home. O’Brien also pointed out that microchips are only effective if the owner’s information is registered.

She aims for quick reunifications, but only manages to do so about 20% of the time. More pets need to be licensed and microchipped to improve those odds. O’Brien is dedicated to helping lost animals, even building shelters for strays during the cold months.

If you’re thinking about microchipping your pet, check out the American Veterinary Medical Association’s website for more info. It’s a simple step that can make a big difference in bringing lost pets back home.