Apple Air Tag Helps Reunite Lost Cat
Pasadena Humane Animal Control will use any means necessary to help animals in need in the community. One morning last month, officer Jake Robles assisted a distraught pet parent with her runaway kitty, with an assist from Apple.
Officer Robles explains, “We get calls pretty often to help people with their lost cats who have managed to get under the house. Cats love crawl spaces, and it can be really difficult to extricate them once they’re under the house.”
This particular situation was quite unique. The cat’s owner, Denitra, had wisely affixed an Apple Air Tag to her cat’s collar because the cat, Harlee, is known to be a bit of a wanderer, and Denitra has needed to seek Harlee out to bring the wayward kitty home a number of times. This time, Harlee was a little bit further afield than usual.
When Harlee didn’t come home for dinner one evening, Denitra and her son checked their phones to see where she could be. They were completely caught off guard that Harlee appeared to be in Pasadena, as they live 30 minutes away, in South Gate.
The concerned family jumped into the car to drive up to Pasadena, hoping that somehow Harlee and her Air Tag were not separated. As they got closer, they realized the location was not a residential neighborhood, it was the Cal Tech campus. Unfortunately, the Air Tag was pinging from an area under construction.
With the help of Pasadena PD and Cal Tech security, Denitra got as close to the area in the construction site where the Tag was pinging. They called for Harlee, hoping the sounds of their voices would bring her out. They had to call off the search after they were unable to locate Harlee, or get close enough to hear the Air Tag.
Denitra came back the next day, and still could not find Harlee. It was not until a few days later that a break in the case came. Denitra’s son checked the Air Tag on his way to work, and immediately noticed that it was pinging from a different location- what seemed like a residential area.
Denitra once again zipped up to Pasadena, only to find the residential area was, in fact, the finance office of Cal Tech. It was quickly determined that Harlee was in the crawl space/basement area of the office. The Air Tag could be heard, and eventually even a soft meow. Harlee wasn’t visible, and no one could coax her out.
At that point, Pasadena PD called in Animal Control. Officer Robles responded to the call and met with Denitra. A plan was put into action- Robles set up a humane trap in the basement, baited with Harlee’s favorite food and a shirt that belonged to Denitra. Not wanting to spook Harlee, it was decided that the trap would stay in place overnight and Robles would check on it the next day.
Upon returning the next day, Denitra and Officer Robles were dismayed to find the trap was empty and the food was untouched. However, the Air Tag was still pinging nearby. Robles decided to crawl under the building to try to get an idea of where the cat might be.
“I saw the reflection of the cat’s eyes with my flashlight,” says Robles. “At that point, we knew it was just a matter of getting the right motivation to get Harlee to safety.” And that, they did. Aside from Denitra, everyone stepped back a safe distance to give Harley some room. Before long, a scared but safe Harlee crawled out of the basement and into her grateful mother’s arms.
Denitra recalls that everyone was so helpful and supportive during the whole ordeal; Pasadena PD, Cal Tech Campus Security, and Pasadena Humane. “Officer Robles crawling under the building was above and beyond. I think Harlee knew he was there to help her.”
Harlee has wandered much less over the last few weeks, choosing to stay indoors. Just to be safe, Denitra has purchased a second GPS tracker for her collar.
