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June 13, 2009

Long-sought Meowy safe in Rouses Point

By ANDREA VanVALKENBURG

ROUSES POINT — Fueled by love and loss, Bob and Joann Parker vowed to continue searching for their missing family member.

After nearly three months and thousands of miles of driving, the North Carolina residents’ quest finally ended in Rouses Point Friday.

“We weren’t stopping until we found him,” a relieved Mr. Parker said Saturday as he watched his 3-year-old tabby rest after eleven weeks in the wild.

Meowy, the Parkers’ 14-pound cat, was recently found hiding in the woods near a highway in Rouses Point.

After three nights and many hours of coaxing, the former Vermont residents were reunited with their favorite feline late Friday night.

“He was crying so loud, and he was definitely terrified,” Mr. Parker recalled.

“I was so glad he kept coming back to the same spot every night so we were finally able to get him.”

Meowy hadn’t ventured outdoors since he was a kitten but managed to escape from the couple’s motel room in Rouses Point in late March when the Parkers returned to the area to empty a storage shed.

Since then, the Parkers have frequently traveled back north to search for their missing cat.

They distributed fliers, reached out to local media and met with area residents, many of whom kept their eyes out for the large golden feline.

Soon, dozens of cat sightings were reported, and it was one of those encounters that finally helped the Parkers track Meowy down.

“Everybody was really helpful. We started getting so many calls, and some people even mailed us photographs.”

Recently, residents spotted Meowy venturing near a local apartment building and left food for the wandering feline.

When word of the latest sighting reached the Parkers, they returned to the area and found their frightened cat hiding nearby.

Skittish and scared of nearby strangers and activity, it took a little food and a lot of persuasion before Meowy crawled into his owner’s arms.

“This was overwhelming to him for sure. But he’s just resting and purring now. He looks a lot thinner, but he seems fine and healthy,” Mr. Parker said.

And it wasn’t just the Parkers who missed the lovable cat.

Their dogs were visibly elated by Meowy’s safe returned and coated him with kisses the first chance they got.

With the ordeal finally over, the Parkers will continue their occasional two-day journey to the area for work and are now looking into purchasing a home locally.

As for Meowy, Mr. Parker said, “he doesn’t even want to get out now, even if he could.

“We’re all just glad that it’s over.”



E-mail Andrea VanValkenburg at:

avanvalkenburg@pressrepublican.com

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