After nearly a year of searching, BooBoo’s owners had almost lost hope of finding their missing cat.
Vanore Voaklander and her husband had been diligent in their efforts since BooBoo vanished during what was meant to be a brief outdoor excursion from their home near Edmonton. They scoured local parks, distributed flyers, and even offered a reward, but their beloved pet remained elusive.
“We followed up on every lead we received from various neighborhoods. We would rush over, only to find no trace of BooBoo,” Voaklander shared with Global News.
Then, almost out of the blue, tow-truck driver Darren Labelle spotted a cat resembling BooBoo near his shop, located nearly 10 miles from the Voaklanders’ home. Labelle described the cat as “sick, dirty, and battered.” He began providing food and shelter to the feline, who soon exhibited behavior that indicated it had once been a domesticated pet.
“The cat would jump onto us, headbutt us, and even try to lay on my keyboard while I worked,” Labelle recalled. “It became clear that this cat had been someone’s pet.”
Labelle posted a photo of BooBoo on a lost pets Facebook page. Within an hour, the Voaklanders were on their way to retrieve their cherished cat, who, upon returning home, slept for three continuous days, they reported.
Though they may never fully understand what happened during BooBoo’s absence, the Voaklanders suspect he may have been stolen and later abandoned. In gratitude, they visited Labelle to present him with a $1,000 reward.
Initially, Labelle was hesitant to accept the money but decided to use it to support the stray cats that frequent his shop, helping them find their own homes.