Cat reunited with owner after three weeks

When Carla Vanderploeg's 4-year-old cat disappeared three weeks ago, she thought her pet was gone for good. But the West Olive native said she was relieved when she received a call from the Harbor Humane Society that Esther Sue had been found. In 2010, Esther Sue was microchipped by Harbor Humane Society at an off-site microchip clinic at the shelter's thrift store, Shelby's Place. Microchipping a pet is the No. 1 step to reuniting a lost animal with their family, shelter officials said.

Anonymous

West Olive

May 19, 2011

“It had been almost four weeks and I am really glad we microchipped her because that is how we were reunited,” Vanderploeg said.

Identification tags can break off and collars come loose, but a microchip is permanent. In March alone, HHS reunited 35 pets with their owners by their microchip, shelter officials said.

Shelby’s Place is celebrating its sixth anniversary on Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. During the anniversary celebration, onsite microchipping will be offered for $10 per pet from noon to 4 p.m. on Saturday. Refreshments will be provided.

For more information, call Harbor Humane Society at 616-399-2119 or visit www.harborhumane.org.