Claire’s family was excited for their big move until it turned into every pet owner’s worst nightmare.  

They were in the middle of moving when Claire was startled, slipping out of her room and straight into the laundry room, where she climbed up into the ceiling. Claire’s family was set to travel cross-country in less than 24 hours, and now, they were missing one of their beloved family members. One of our Animal Services Officers (ASOs) helped set humane cat traps, hoping she would smell the delicious food and step inside. But Claire was smarter than that. She was able to get her food AND escape like a furry Houdini. She was determined.  

But so were we.

The next morning, an ASO spoke with Claire’s family to come up with a plan. It had now been over 24 hours since they had her in their arms, and they were ready to do whatever it took to find her—even if that meant getting a little messy.  

One by one, Claire’s dad worked with contractors to cut slots into the ceiling to see if they could find her. Our friends at Fairfax County Fire and Rescue even stopped by to try and help find Claire, with no luck. What they did find was an expanded crawl space, inaccessible from outside and the perfect place for a scared cat to hide for as long as she wanted. 

Now, hours after the family was supposed to leave, and the moving truck on its way to California and Claire’s siblings meowing sadly in the other room, it seemed hopeless. But there was one thing left to try.  

Tuna.  

Turns out, Claire is a big fan of fish but only eats chicken or beef since her siblings don’t like it (majority rules, we suppose). Claire’s dad rushed to the store to buy several cans of tuna to reset the traps. All they needed was a can opener...that was on its way to California. Luckily, a neighbor knew about Claire’s situation and was more than happy to lend a hand (or, rather, a can opener).  

Our ASO reset the traps, double-checking everything was secure and Claire-ready. The next day we received a message from an exhausted but very happy, reunited family! The tuna worked, and Claire was safe! Claire’s mom said she plans to keep a collar and tracker on all her cats to ensure she can always find them.  

Emergencies can happen at any time. Help prevent them by:  

• Double-checking for pets before opening or closing doors.  
• Make sure your pet’s collar is secure, and their tag information is up to date.  
• Ensure your pet’s microchip information is updated. Visit our bi-monthly vaccine and microchip clinics to have your pet microchipped.  

When in doubt, call for help. Our ASOs are ready to help you any time, any day. Friends, family, and neighbors can also offer support in a variety of ways (such as can openers!).

If you see an animal in need of help, don’t hesitate. Call 703-691-2131 for assistance.