Cat might have 9 lives

L ast week started out sad, but ended up happy. Allow me to explain.

I often attempt to reunite folks with their lost pets. Last Tuesday, I called a Shorewood woman named Ann Marie , who had lost her cat, Jimbo, earlier this month.

During our conversation, I offered to put a photo of her cat in today's column.

"That would be wonderful, but I think my cat has been put to sleep," she said. "The police told me they took him to animal control, and he was put to sleep that same day."

Ann Marie had gone to the Joliet Township Animal Control office on Oct. 13, but there was no sign of Jimbo.

Ann Marie wasn't sure of the details. She wasn't even certain her cat was dead. I offered to call the animal control office to try to determine what had happened.

I didn't want to imagine the pain of learning a beloved pet had been euthanized. The claim that the cat had been put down the same day it was found seemed odd.

Surely Joliet Township Animal Control wouldn't euthanize an animal so quickly.

I called Andy Ivanicky , director of the facility, and asked him point blank if the animal control facility euthanizes animals within 24 hours.

"That is absolutely not true. We hold animals for a week," he said. "And during that time we do what we can to reunite pets with their owners."

Ivanicky did recall that a Shorewood police officer had brought in a cat on Oct. 6. He told me they held the cat for a week. When no one claimed the cat, it was euthanized.

Ivanicky did not recall Ann Marie's visit. Indeed, it appeared that no one had come to claim the unfortunate cat before it was put to sleep.

It seem clear to me that Jimbo was gone.

Calling Ann Marie back with the sad news was one of the most difficult things I've ever had to do.

As I was writing this sad, sad column last Friday, I got a call from Ann Marie.

"I visited the animal control office yesterday and talked to a woman named Cindy who works with the animals," she said. "When I described Jimbo, she said that the cat that had been euthanized did not meet his description; it wasn't Jimbo."

Despite the incessant rain and gloom last Friday, I felt a great sense of elation. I had been so certain that Ann Marie's cat had been euthanized, and suddenly I learned that he may still be alive.

While Jimbo wasn't euthanized, he is still lost, alone and hungry, and Ann Marie fears the worst.

Jimbo is a brown and black tabby. He has been neutered and his front paws were declawed. He's on the slender side.

Ann Marie is offering a reward for the safe return of her beloved cat. If you have information, please give her a call at 815-725-6854.

Mary Lynn Ferone of Joliet contacted me early last week regarding the purse she lost on Oct. 10.

"I read your column all the time, and have my faith in humanity bolstered frequently," she said. "My purse is black, about 5 inches by 7 inches, flat, and, most importantly, has a green wallet inside which contains some irreplaceable mementos."

Ferone had been to Lewis University and Panera Bread that day. She is offering a reward for the return of her purse and wallet. If you have information, give me a call.

Rose McDonald of Joliet lost a precious necklace given to her by her husband 25 years ago.

The necklace consists of a 14-karat gold chain and opal pendant. The opal is white with colors and oval about ½ inch in a V-shaped pendant.

Fernando Ruiz of Joliet lost his dog tags from his service in Vietnam about a year ago. The dog tags were on a key ring with several keys.

Jacqueline Grubbs of Joliet claimed the house keys turned in by an anonymous good Samaritan several weeks ago.

If you've lost -- or found -- something, give me a call at 815-439-5328 or e-mail rpanieri@scn1.com