Another custody battle is underway involving Bob, a senior cat from Kansas present in Fuquay-Varina final 12 months.
Carol Holmes, from Kansas, is Bob’s unique proprietor and spoke to WRAL News over a Zoom name.
“It’s just been a roller coaster,” Holmes mentioned.
Holmes adopted Bob in Kansas in 2013, naming him after her dad. The cat disappeared just a few months later and Holmes mentioned she looked for him for years, till 2023, when he was present in Fuquay-Varina and his microchip linked the cat again to Holmes.
“I mean, that’s quite enough to find a cat after missing 10 years. But then to get the call on what would have been my dad’s 94th birthday was astounding,” Holmes mentioned.
A bitter custody combat unfolded between Holmes and Alex Streight, who discovered Bob in Kansas in 2014 then moved to North Carolina along with her household — and Bob. Streight cared for Bob in Fuquay-Varina for 10 years earlier than the cat was discovered wandering the neighborhood in 2023 and brought to a veterinarian, the place his microchip linked him to Holmes.
Wake County Animal Services finally determined that, as a result of Holmes is the one proprietor listed on the microchip, Bob ought to return to her.
Holmes advised WRAL News she mentioned the scenario with a buddy and determined she wanted to take custody of Bob earlier than the choice might be challenged.
“We needed to get someone there [to North Carolina] to pick him up the very first morning, and her cousin didn’t live far away,” Holmes mentioned concerning the dialogue along with her buddy.
Jennifer Manella, the cousin, lives in Statesville, which is north of Charlotte. On Sept. 20, she picked up Bob, and the plan was for Holmes to return get him in just a few days.
Holmes offered e mail and textual content exchanges with Manella detailing their dialogue and plans for Bob to stick with Manella quickly till Holmes might decide him up. Wake County additionally offered emails by way of information requests displaying the identical.
The alternate by no means occurred.
“I really felt like she just she intentionally stole my cat,” Holmes mentioned about Manella.
In a telephone name with 5 On Your Side, Manella claims Wake County let her undertake Bob, even sending WRAL News paperwork that she mentioned proves it.
5 On Your Side checked with Wake County Animal Services, who mentioned Manella was not allowed to undertake Bob and the paperwork she signed to say Bob for Holmes was a redemption kind, not adoption paperwork.
The microchip that reconnected Bob and Holmes after 10 years ought to have the ability to settle the dispute, however Holmes mentioned the corporate that administers the chip, 24Petwatch, allowed Manella to vary the chip into her identify with out Holmes’ consent.
“Their reply,” Holmes mentioned about 24Petwatch, “is they realize there’s a dispute. And they can’t keep changing it back and forth. And they are not hired to make custody decisions.”
24Petwatch has not responded to calls or emails from 5 On Your Side.
Manella didn’t wish to be interviewed by WRAL News however mentioned in a telephone name she “will combat to the loss of life for Bob, as a result of he is completely satisfied proper the place he’s.”
“My next move is to file a lawsuit against the woman that has intentionally stolen my cat,” Holmes advised WRAL News.
Microchips are nonetheless a great choice to show possession of a pet. It’s how Wake County made its willpower that Holmes ought to get custody of Bob, citing a earlier courtroom case.
Documentation that proves possession can be useful, together with proof that you just adopted the animal or, if the animal was bought, that you just have been the one who bought them.
Timeline of the battle for Bob
2013: Holmes adopts Bob. After just a few months, Bob goes lacking from his Kansas home.
2014: Streight finds Bob in Kansas. She took him to the veterinarian who mentioned he didn’t have a microchip. She tries to seek out his proprietor however has no luck and finally ends up adopting Bob.
2015: Streight strikes along with her household and Bob from Kansas to North Carolina.
August 2023: Bob has lived with Streight for almost a decade. The cat is wandering the neighborhood when a neighbor finds him. The neighbor takes him to the vet who finds a microchip registered to Holmes. The battle begins to determine who legally owns Bob.
September 2023: The Wake County Animal Center decides Bob might be despatched again to Kansas to stay with Holmes. Streight recordsdata an emergency injunction to cease Bob from being despatched to Kansas.
September 2023: A Statesville, N.C., lady named Jennifer Manella picks up Bob with Holmes’ information, however the cat has not but been returned to Holmes in Kansas.
March 2024: Manella tells 5 On Your Side the cat is completely satisfied the place he’s and says she’s going to combat to maintain him.
