RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA — In a heartbreaking twist of loyalty and betrayal, a 7-year-old cat named Toby walked 12 miles to find his former owners — only for them to try to have him euthanized when he arrived back home.
The emotional story unfolded in February 2018, when Toby’s family gave him away to another household. Refusing to stay, the Maine coon mix made an incredible journey across North Carolina to return to the family he knew. But instead of a warm reunion, his owners took him to a local shelter in Wake County and requested that he be put down.
Shelter Workers Refused to Kill Him and Called the SPCA
Shelter staff were stunned when Toby’s family asked them to end his life despite him being a healthy, friendly cat. They refused to comply and instead contacted the SPCA of Wake County, who agreed to take him in immediately.
“It was really hard to understand why someone would want to euthanize a pet who just wanted to come home,” said Tara Lynn from the SPCA…