The Rescue of Cyrano

(Little Boy Lost)

March 2003 - by Heather Hines

Picture of Cyrano On New Years Eve, I learned about Cyrano, a young blind cat with seizure disorder, who had been lost in his apartment complex for a few days. I began searching on New Years Day, on opposite shifts with Cyrano’s parents, and continued searching in the miserable weather every day, convinced that he would be found, but driven by the realization that if we didn’t find him soon, our window of opportunity might be lost. A few days later I e-mailed asking for help. The following are e-mails pertaining to our search efforts, the outcome, and finally, some of the responses from people who received our e-mails. I hope that everyone who reads this wonderful story is inspired in the same way all of us were.

e-mail 01/03/03
Hi everyone, I am organizing a search party to find a lost cat who wandered out of his SE Portland apartment Sunday evening December 29th. Cyrano is both blind and mentally disabled. He has seizure disorder and cannot take care of himself. His time is running out. We have been searching everyday unsuccessfully, but if a large enough group can spread out and speak to more tenants we may have a chance to find Cyrano alive. We have hung flyers (which the management is taking down), called vets offices and checked with shelters.

If anyone can help us, we will begin searching this Saturday afternoon January 4th, beginning at noon. The apartments are called Wimbledon Square, and are located on SE Colt St, just off of SE 28th near Holgate. (Near Reed College.) Call for more information. 503-626-7222. Thank you in advance for your help!

Heather Hines

e-mail 1/04/03
Great News! After eight days lost without food or water, we are so incredibly happy to report that Cyrano has been found!

It was a long day searching in rain and wind, and all of our 'search team' were amazing troopers as we explored every nook and cranny of a HUGE apartment complex, knocked on lots of doors and inquired of every person we saw along the way. We talked to maintenance workers and tenants, and found some leads from as far back as New Years Eve, but still no Cyrano.

Finally, as it approached dark, everyone packed it in. Claud and I went to get some dinner and use a restroom, and decided to search with flashlights for a few more hours. Finally Claudia, who continued searching in spite of being sick with a cold, packed it in for the evening and we made plans to start again in the morning.

I had decided to stay another hour or so, and just a few minutes after Claudia left, I ran into a woman and two children who spoke only Spanish. In my broken (and pathetic) Spanish, I was able to describe Cyrano and his disability, and she and her son were sure they had seen him the night before! They led me back to where they had seen him (which was coincidentally the same place we had rescued an abandoned cat earlier in the day), and I called Claud on the cell phone. She came back, and we started searching that area again.

No luck. After another half an hour, we finally decided again to leave. We slowly worked our way out of the complex, and a few more people passed by so we asked each of them, and as luck would have it, the last people we saw were a woman and two young children...the young girl said her mom had seen a cat who sounded like Cyrano's description.

The young girl led us up (several flights of stairs) to the very top floor of the complex, where we asked her mom, who said she had seen him down one floor a few nights before. Then she said she had seen him again later the same night, on the other side of her floor (through a door). She led us there, where we noticed another flight of stairs that led to a dead-end maintenance hallway which had a ladder to the roof. We climbed that flight of stairs, and there, at the end of the hallway, was Cyrano, looking very disoriented. We were stunned and elated, and very emotional as we picked him up and made our way back.

So, I guess the moral to the story is...Persistence! We can never give up on them, no matter how hopeless it seems. I was so frustrated after days of searching in vein, trying to gauge what a blind cat would do, how far he could travel, and whether he could (or would) navigate stairs, and there he was, in a place none of us would have ever thought of!

I am indebted to everyone who came out and braved the weather on their day off to help find this frightened little cat. Seven of us covered what seemed like miles of territory, and we found our missing cat. To Maria Savin, Faon, Phyllis Johanson, Sandy Rasmussen, Patty Robeson, and of course my die hard compadre in this messy world of animal rescue...Claudia Wood. From the bottom of my heart...THANK YOU!!

-Heather Hines

P.S. The cat we had found earlier is at our vets office tonight being treated for conjuctivitis and fleas. She had a micro-chip from an Oregon Humane Society adoption three years ago, so we're doing some research to find out how she was abandoned...

e-mail replies:

That is wonderful news. What a trooper.
-Beccy

Wow! What a story! Congratulations.
-Joy Gohl

Congratulations! I am so happy you found the cat and that he was alive and well. What a happy ending. Good job!
-Karen Kraus

Thanks for starting my morning off on a happy note. I am so happy that he is found and presumably okay. You and Claud are definitely the troopers of all time.
-Fiona

I am so glad to hear stories like that. Thank you for sharing. Even if I am two days away driving.
-Dorette

Great job!
-Bob Stadel

This is too much!!! Congratulations to all of you.
-Mary Huey

Thanks for being who you are. The only time I ever took anything Dale Carnegie said to heart was his statement that when it feels the most hopeless that's when you determinedly persist, one step at a time. There is a tribe, however small of caring people. I just forget sometimes.
-Gail O'Connell Babcock

Hi! I read with fascination your account of searching for and finding Cyrano. It is a true miracle, fed by your tenacity and persistence! I was hopeful that you would find him, but it sounded extremely difficult. Anyway, a big CONGRATULATIONS to you--it is a good omen for a happy new year!!!
-Mary Lou Denton

Congratulations!!!!! How wonderful!!!!!
-Elayne Boosler

Not to take away from the others who helped you in this venture - but you and Claudia are something else in the hapless world of animal rescue... who'd have thought it would end this way? Congratulations and thanks for taking the time to write us all about it!
-Patti Bumgarner

This is a GREAT STORY with a very happy ending. CONGRATULATIONS on finding Cyrano and bless you for caring so much!
-Donna Steadman

I was delighted to read that you found your precious cat. We are cat lovers too and have a loving cat named Joshua. Josh has only one eye due to cancer in the other. I know how devastated we would be if Josh got out and wandered away so we are celebrating with you.
-Sharon

You guys are AMAZING!! I just read your e-mail about finding Cyrano. Your efforts are truly an inspiration to me! Again, thanks for your incredible efforts in locating Cyrano! God bless you.
-Janet McLaren

That's wonderful! I was hoping you would find him as my cat is blind and I know it would be terrible for her and confusing if she ever got lost. Great work!
-Jen (Seattle)

I was simply overjoyed to read your message today, Heather. You all deserve a medal! Great action!!! -Vida Lohnes

I am so happy that you found Cyrano. I could not believe the story - just amazing. Big hugs to all of you guys!
-Steph

Outstanding...Heather and Claudia. Truly amazing!!!
-Wayne Geiger

Great Great News!!! I'm so happy you found him!
-Matt Rossell

Just wanted to congratulate you on finding the cat, Cyrano….That was a great thing to do and it sounds like you really had to work at it…You probably already are, but in case not,,,,you should be very proud of yourself!!! Good job Girls!!! Don't any men help or care???
-Linda Roush

You folks did good! I'm so glad you found him. I bet he is glad to be home!
-Sue Adams

What an incredible story and for once, one with a happy ending. Congratulations to all involved. You are indeed true animal sleuths. This made my day. I hope the rest of the year turns out to have many happy stories like this one - it would be pleasant change of pace! You and Claudia are saints and for sure will have halos in animal heaven (the only place I want to go! :))
-Bev Trover

I was very moved by this effort and your story. Thank you so much for sharing it - and congratulations!
-Randy Ralston

Congratulations on locating Cyrano. I am very moved by your caring and persistence. You and all who helped you are inspirational.
-Jean Martwick

Good work you pet sleuths!
-Susan Field

I'm so glad you had a happy ending!!
-Megan Burger

This is the nicest story! It brought tears to my eyes! You all must have felt so rewarded to find Cyrano! Anyway, I wanted to congratulate you on your successful search and thank you and all your fellow searchers for your determination and dedication to Cyrano!
-Connie Durkee

Congratulations! Thanks for sharing such a wonderful story. Your group did a fantastic job!!
-Barbara Cannon

This is wonderful news! Thanks so much for the update. It really made my day. You are wonderful! I am so glad you are in the world!!
-Joan Wikler

Wow Heather, how wonderful is that! and to rescue another too... thanks for the great news.
-Randi Robinson

Thank you, it's inspiring other people go to such lengths for our dear friends.
-Gilam

Great job! I am so happy to hear about Cyrano, the poor little guy, what he must have gone through, probably so scared and alone out there for 7 days. Persistence does pay off in spades! Keep up the dedication and hard work!
-Kat Westwood

God bless you and Claudia and all who helped you look for that poor little cat. I am so glad that your story had a happy ending. I am elated that Cyrano was found. Bless you all.
-Allyne Grover

Dear Heather and search team, I am so thrilled to hear such an incredible happy ending to your story. How difficult it must have been to not only worry over a missing pet, but one with a disability. That would personally keep me frantic day and night. I am so glad you found him and rescued another cat in the process. Congrats for your persistence!!!
-hswv

by Heather Hines