In the aftermath of recent flooding, we were honored to be part of a truly heartwarming reunion.

Ella, a tabby cat who became separated from her owner during a temporary relocation caused by the July 4th flood, was recently reunited with her family after being missing for nearly six months. The reunion was made possible through the collaborative efforts of Kerr County Animal Control and Freeman Fritts Animal Shelter.

When Ella first went missing, her devastated owner made a desperate plea on social media, sharing one crucial identifying detail: Ella was wearing a red harness.

Months later, Animal Control contacted us (Freeman Fritts Animal Shelter), for assistance with a trapped tabby cat—still wearing a red harness. It appeared to be overly tight, but her spicy demeanor at the time made handling her for removal difficult.  They immediately called us to help. It was a good thing because, upon arrival, several of us instantly remembered seeing a lost post about a tabby cat in a red harness. Once that connection was made, we knew we had to act quickly. In true community-driven fashion, volunteer member Shelly Sandy tracked down the original post and began the search for Ella’s owner. The effort paid off when Ella’s mom was located and arrived at the shelter.

The moment she walked in, there was no question—Ella recognized her, and her mom recognized Ella. It was an incredibly emotional reunion.

We want to emphasize that stories like Ella’s highlight the importance of identification, community awareness, and never giving up hope—even after months apart.

This is why WE do what we do, this was a phenomenal day!