A family cat who got lost during a move from California across the US has been reunited with his owners in Georgia after more than seven years. The cat, named Dodger, was found in February in Madera, California, about 31 miles from his original home in Clovis. He was taken to Fresno Trap and Release (TNR), where a microchip scan revealed his owners.
Emotional Reunion
Owner Amber Davidson-Orozco said Dodger still responds to his name and allows her sons to flip him over their shoulders, just like before. “Oh, he’s there. That super sweet, cuddly, social temperament is still there,” she said. Her sons, Schylar and Zachary, were eight and five when Dodger vanished. Their father had died shortly before the move, making the reunion especially meaningful. “It’s full circle – losing all your stuff and belongings while having to move, losing your dad, and you get this back,” Davidson-Orozco said.
How the Reunion Happened
Dodger escaped from a friend’s vehicle during the 2018 move from California to Florida. The family later moved to Calhoun, Georgia. In February, someone found Dodger in Madera and brought him to Fresno TNR for neutering. Veterinarians discovered he was already neutered and had a microchip, which led them to Davidson-Orozco. Sydney Sherman of Fresno TNR offered to fly Dodger to Florida for a wedding and then drive to meet the family. “His family was so excited,” Sherman said. The family drove seven hours from Calhoun to meet Sherman at 5 am to pick up Dodger.
Importance of Microchipping
Davidson-Orozco urged pet owners to microchip their animals. “When you get an animal, you’re obviously not thinking of anything going wrong or anything like that. But things happen. Situations happen,” she said. The reunion has been held up as an example of how vital microchipping can be.
