A 14-year-old Siamese cat named Banks, listed as missing five years ago, has been reunited with his beloved owner, Spencer McCreery of Indianapolis, after being found near West Ridge in Chicago. “When they handed him to me, he immediately snuggled into me and nuzzled my face,” McCreery said. “It felt like no time had passed.”
The Backstory: A Cat’s Journey Through Separation
McCreery and his ex-wife adopted Banks in Indianapolis in 2016. After their separation in 2017, his ex-wife retained custody of the cat, and McCreery lost contact with his cherished pet. In 2020, when his ex-wife moved out of state, Banks was rehomed with a friend in Chicago—but the cat vanished shortly after settling into the new home.
“I never thought I’d see him again,” McCreery admitted. “For years, he was just a memory.”
The Rescue: A Good Samaritan’s Role
On May 13, Shainy Peysin of West Ridge spotted the disheveled cat near Devon Avenue and McCormick Boulevard during her morning run. “He was extremely thin, his fur matted and dirty, but he walked right up to me instead of running away,” Peysin recalled. Recognizing he needed help, she took him in, visited a vet, and posted his photo in the Chicago Lost & Found Pets Facebook group.
When initial efforts to find his owner failed, commenters suggested checking his microchip through the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) registry and contacting Illinois’ Microchip Hunters for Lost Dogs.
The Microchip Miracle: A Five-Year Gap Closed
The vet confirmed Banks had a microchip, which linked back to McCreery—though his address had since changed to another part of Indiana. Still, the registry allowed the reunion. On May 18, McCreery drove to Chicago to reclaim Banks. The moment they reunited, the cat’s instinctive affection erased half a decade of separation.
“He’s grayer and thinner, but his personality is exactly the same,” McCreery said. “He still kneads his paws like he did when we first got him.”
A Message of Hope: The Power of Persistence
Local animal advocates hail the reunion as a testament to microchipping’s importance: pets with microchips are 2.5 times more likely to be reunited with their owners. “Every step—from Shainy’s kindness to the microchip registry—felt like fate,” said a spokesperson for Chicago Animal Care and Control.
Banks now lives with McCreery in Indiana, where he spends his days curled up beside his owner. “This experience taught me never to stop hoping,” McCreery said. “Love and a little bit of destiny can bridge any distance.”
Pet Safety Tip: Chicago Animal Care urges owners to update microchip information regularly and use ID collars. For help, visit Chicago Lost & Found Pets or contact local shelters.
—May every lost pet find their way home, guided by compassion and a little magic.
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