A stray kitten rescued in Florida led to an unexpected reunion more than 1,100 miles away.
Kiwi, a domestic short-haired tabby, was found wandering the streets in Polk County in mid-March. When animal control staff scanned her microchip, they discovered the contact information of her owner, Lourdes Ortiz.
Eighteen months earlier, Ortiz had adopted Kiwi from the same shelter. Kiwi had lived happily with Ortiz and her daughter until October 2023, when she escaped from their home and disappeared. Despite searching the neighborhood and checking shelters, Ortiz and her family lost hope of finding her.
In early 2023, Ortiz moved to New York City to care for a sick relative, knowing she had to leave Kiwi behind. “Leaving Florida without Kiwi was heartbreaking,” Ortiz said. “My daughter and I loved her dearly. It was devastating.”
Then, in mid-March, Kiwi was found near where she went missing. Ortiz was overjoyed but could not travel to Florida. Best Friends Animal Society stepped in to help. They arranged for Kiwi to be transported safely to New York City.
On April 3, Kiwi was reunited with Ortiz at the Best Friends Animal Society in New York—18 months after she disappeared. Ortiz called it a “big surprise” for her daughter, who did not know Kiwi was coming home.
Kiwi is also missed by her two dog siblings, Logan and Mookska. Ortiz said the whole family is “extremely happy” to have her back.
A spokesperson for Best Friends Animal Society praised everyone involved in the reunion and emphasized the importance of microchipping pets. They noted that many shelter animals already have microchips and encouraged pet owners to keep their contact information updated.
They said, “Microchipping helps keep pets safe and increases the chances of being reunited with their families if they go missing. We hope Kiwi’s story encourages others to microchip their pets.”
Related Topic:
