Snap decision reunites puss in park
27 June 2023
Richard Brown, NBCPs canny cat-photographer, took a snap of a friendly ginger and white cat while out walking in Pype Hayes Park – and with one click set the scene for a story with a happy ending.
Within 24 hours, his ‘snap’ had helped reunite missing cat LaLa and grieving owner Janan – after he’d been missing for almost a year!
Back home, Richard decided to check for missing cats on ‘Pets Reunited’ – thinking this oh-so-friendly cat might be lost and have an owner. And soon flagged-up a ‘spitting image’ of the park puss. So Richard left a message on the PR website, giving his e-mail address. And Janan Rubaniyah – formerly of Erdington but now living in Kings Heath – picked up on it. She squealed with anticipation that the puss might be LaLa – her ginger and white boy who’d been missing since the 20th August, 2022.
Says delighted-now-reunited Janan: “We moved from Chester Road to Kings Heath in March. Often prior to moving I searched the park, but to no avail. I posted him as missing on Pets Reunited. Then on the 3rd June, at 4 am, I checked the site, and there was the message. I was in touch with Richard as soon as it was dawn! He sent me the found-cat photo and sure enough, it was LaLa! So I got back to Richard and had my housemate Jason drive me over later that morning.”
The pair met up, and soon heard the purr Janan had been dreaming of. Richard, of Bickton Close, Erdington, confirmed: “Janan and I met up and set off searching. Soon we spotted LaLa, and made our move - tho’ he needed a fair bit of encouragement to get in a carrier.”
Janan has since contacted Cats Protection to tell her story, adding: “I’m so happy to have Lala back home with his Mom Safi and sisters Lulu and Layla. Richard is an angel and has healed my grieving heart”.
Says Richard: “I think that someone kind has been feeding LaLa but he wasn’t chipped. Janan is getting him chipped now, and of course it will be law next year. It was a great feeling to reunite LaLa with his owner – chip or no chip – and put my photography, curiosity and love of cats together to achieve such a happy ending.”