After two weeks missing, Aquila the Serval cat has arrived safely back home with her owners in Fernie, B.C.
Look back:
Aquila, an African Serval, disappeared from Alex Hanson鈥檚 backyard in Fernie sometime on Friday, July 13. Hanson inspected the area the night she disappeared to find a large hole deliberately cut through the deer fence which lined Aquila鈥檚 one-acre enclosure. He and his partner believe someone had deliberately tried to steal her, or set her free.
What followed was a wave of confusion and frustration, not knowing if she had been stolen, or if she had escaped and was wandering around in the surrounding woods. Hope returned when Aquila was spotted on Sunday, July 22, but Hanson was unable to get her to come home.
On Thursday, July 27, Hanson鈥檚 partner, Jaime, received the call of Aquila being spotted again, and was able to bring the cat home safely. Alex said that once Aquila recognized Jaime, she bolted over and hopped up into the car.
鈥淲e鈥檇 like to thank all those involved and are very pleased to have our fur baby back home,鈥� said Hanson on Facebook.
鈥淎quila was able to successfully hunt for food but managed to avoid cougars and bears before she was found, although she did lose a few pounds.鈥�
He added that it鈥檚 great to have her back home, but what meant the most to both him and his partner was how much people cared, and how many people were interested in what was going on.
鈥淚t wouldn鈥檛 have happened without a whole bunch of people that we don鈥檛 really know all that well, that were able to help us get her back,鈥� said Hanson.
What next?
Despite the threat to his own security, Hanson says he鈥檚 not going to live in fear. That being said, he has invested in professional security services to make sure it doesn鈥檛 happen again.
鈥淎quila is, basically, part of the family,鈥� said Hanson. 鈥淎nd to think that somebody came here to take her, is not Fernie.鈥�
He explained that this event was very uncharacteristic of the small mountain town, where the rate of crime is very low.
鈥淚t鈥檚 an unfortunate situation that turned out good and we鈥檙e happy about that, but we鈥檙e not going to live in fear,鈥� said Hanson.
