Not Just Another Lost Pet Story

Not Just Another Lost Pet Story

Dec 1, 2005

By Elizabeth Ries

How far would you go for your pet? One woman from New Mexico traveled thousands of miles for hers -- and a community is trying to help.

You can hear her call all around the city streets. "Here kitty, kitty, kitty. Cleo..."

Jane Miller is a long way from home searching the streets of Menominee, Michigan, for her lost cat.

"She's my best friend," she explains.

Cleo escaped two months ago when Jane and her husband stopped in Menominee on their way home to Albuquerque. Since then, Jane has returned to Menominee several times to search for her pet Cleo.

"She's nine years old. She grew up with a dog and very pampered and good cat care, uh, we miss her."

Now the community is stepping up to help. Volunteers are searching with Jane and even tracking the cat's movements based on recent sightings.

They say Jane's dedication keeps them going.

"Never seen anything like it. I really haven't," Officer Mike Baker of the Menominee Police Department said. "Most people would've gave up long ago, but she's determined."

And pet owners empathize with Jane's loss. Julie DeRusha at the Menominee Animal Shelter said, "To us pet lovers, animals are our babies and they're our children, and once you have them in your heart you just can't shake it."

Jane tells us she can't believe the response. "It's something very special here, your sense of community. It's just overwhelming."

And as long as she can, Jane will keep calling out for Cleo.

"Yes. I still have hope."

Man arrested for abusing family over poor pet care

A 41-year-old Beit Shean resident was arrested early Wednesday morning for allegedly beating his wife and children over the course of the past 13 years.

Police were alerted to the scene late Tuesday night and found the wife and children crying, Army Radio reported.

The police interrogation yielded a disturbing story, according to which the father, a career military serviceman, used to whip his family members when they did not take care of the family bird appropriately.

The police commander in Beit Shean said that severe whip marks were found on the children's backs.

The man was to be brought Wednesday morning for a remand extension.

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