Finding Joanna Lee
Thursday, October 29, 2015
By: Wendy Welch

Cat camps out at HSHV

"Joanna Lee lost in Botanical Gardens. I'm hoping you guys find her. Please be sure to look up. This is my baby, I raised her from death at under a month old. She is now 3 and I want many many years with her. She does have on a reflective collar. Thanks for all the help."

That was the Facebook post of a young lady who had brought her cat to HSHV's Low Cost Vaccination Clinic. While waiting in line, indoor/outdoor feline Joanna Lee got loose and ran into the woods.

Joanna Lee's owner proceeded to provide more details about her furry friend-- "[She] Loves to be in trees a lot. She climbs ours pretty high and stays up there most the day. She is not very vocal, and when she does meow she sounds like a little kitten! Her collar is a reflective orange and silver safety collar with a bell."

HSHV rescue staff immediately set to work. While our initial search came up empty, everyone was determined to find Joanna Lee. 

"How a cat behaves when they get loose is much about their personality and if they are aware of the outdoors or not," says Tanya Hilgendorf, HSHV's CEO. "Finding them is about knowing them and their habits."

Joanna's teenage human mom described her as "skittish and shy," and said the cat wasn't likely to come up to a stranger. Based on this knowledge--along with what Joanna liked to eat-- HSHV set up several humane traps in the area.

"You could hear her climbing the trees," said Steven Seever, HSHV rescue officer. "She'd jump from tree to tree. She'd meow out to her owner who called her for nearly 6 hours straight."

The next morning, Joanna Lee, coaxed by her owner, hopped in the humane trap. Her owner was relieved.

No matter how careful we pet owners are, sometimes our furry friends can wander off. So it's important to remember:

1. Let people know your pet is lost! Never feel embarrassed about reporting your animal missing. Starting your search immediately and getting other people to help is crucial. See other tips on finding lost animals here.

2. Provide details on your pet (including personality, food preference, and of course photos and descriptions) to places like HSHV and For the Love of Louie.

3. No matter how long your pet is lost, don't lose hope! We've seen cats return home after many months of adventure

4. And finally, be sure your pet has both identification (e.g., collar and tag) AND a microchip, as they can lose their collar or tag in the wild.  Microchipping is a simple outpatient procedure, and the HSHV Clinic is happy to do that for you for a nominal fee.