This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . The next check for changes will be
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c4gr9dy4739o
The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Previous version
1
Next version
Version 0 | Version 1 |
---|---|
Shropshire rescue for stowaway cat that crossed three countries | Shropshire rescue for stowaway cat that crossed three countries |
(about 7 hours later) | |
Pierre, now back at his home in France, travelled a continent in a lorry | Pierre, now back at his home in France, travelled a continent in a lorry |
A black and white cat that went missing from his French home for a year and embarked on a journey going from Calais, over to Italy, across the English Channel into the UK and ending up in Shropshire, has been reunited with his owners. | A black and white cat that went missing from his French home for a year and embarked on a journey going from Calais, over to Italy, across the English Channel into the UK and ending up in Shropshire, has been reunited with his owners. |
The intrepid explorer, nicknamed Pierre by the Telford vets who helped him recover after his adventure, was away from home for 12 months and completed a 1,200-mile round trip by the time he made it home, none the worse for his travels. | The intrepid explorer, nicknamed Pierre by the Telford vets who helped him recover after his adventure, was away from home for 12 months and completed a 1,200-mile round trip by the time he made it home, none the worse for his travels. |
Pierre, whose real name turned out to be Ushuaia, made his journey as a stowaway in the back of a haulage lorry. | Pierre, whose real name turned out to be Ushuaia, made his journey as a stowaway in the back of a haulage lorry. |
No-one knows when exactly the feline found his way into the lorry, but he arrived in Shropshire on 7 April. | No-one knows when exactly the feline found his way into the lorry, but he arrived in Shropshire on 7 April. |
The cat who arrived in Telford from Europe in a HGV! | |
Pierre was taken into Southwater Veterinary Group in Telford, where vets gave him a health check and traced his owners through his microchip. | Pierre was taken into Southwater Veterinary Group in Telford, where vets gave him a health check and traced his owners through his microchip. |
Staff had to contact a series of animal health authorities before they could treat him. | Staff had to contact a series of animal health authorities before they could treat him. |
Rachel Harvey, practice manager, said: "It was quite a surprise to have Pierre brought into reception, with no idea where he'd come from or how he'd snuck his way into the HGV. | Rachel Harvey, practice manager, said: "It was quite a surprise to have Pierre brought into reception, with no idea where he'd come from or how he'd snuck his way into the HGV. |
"Fortunately, he was microchipped and we learned he was registered to a French database. | "Fortunately, he was microchipped and we learned he was registered to a French database. |
"After some digging, Pierre's owner was traced and we managed to speak with her using Google Translate." | "After some digging, Pierre's owner was traced and we managed to speak with her using Google Translate." |
Pierre was none the worse for his travels, the vets said | |
Nicole Souillard, Pierre's owner, immediately made plans to be reunited with him. | Nicole Souillard, Pierre's owner, immediately made plans to be reunited with him. |
Her pet spent just under a fortnight in isolation at the vets and two weeks quarantined at Dover before she could collect him and take him home. | Her pet spent just under a fortnight in isolation at the vets and two weeks quarantined at Dover before she could collect him and take him home. |
The pet moggy settled in at the vets and got used to treatment and cuddles | |
"This is the happiest ending we could have hoped for," Ms Harvey said. | "This is the happiest ending we could have hoped for," Ms Harvey said. |
"Pierre is safely back home in France with his family, none the worse for his travels and certainly with a tale to tell his friends." | "Pierre is safely back home in France with his family, none the worse for his travels and certainly with a tale to tell his friends." |
She said the story showed the importance of microchipping pets and updating details when addresses changed. | She said the story showed the importance of microchipping pets and updating details when addresses changed. |
Their French feline had settled in nicely to his routine of being treated at the vets – and having cuddles, she added. | Their French feline had settled in nicely to his routine of being treated at the vets – and having cuddles, she added. |
But there was "a hint of sadness among the team" when Pierre set off on his journey home because they had begun to love his company, she said. | But there was "a hint of sadness among the team" when Pierre set off on his journey home because they had begun to love his company, she said. |
Pierre headed home, leaving a "hint of sadness" among the vets, who missed him | |
Follow BBC Shropshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram. | Follow BBC Shropshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram. |
Previous version
1
Next version